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i i\livi^\i\ O KaI r. 



IMMANUEL: 

A LIFE OF JESUS THE CHRIST. 

[For Young People.] 



—by- 
Rev. S. R. Wood. 
ii 



fW6-^' 



\p 



FERNDALE, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CAL. 

MATTHEWS & WOOLDRIDGE, PUBLISHERS. 
1894. 






Copyright, 1894, 
By S. R. WOOD. 



The Li 
of 

WASHINGTON 



sh- 



7 



To the young men and the young women of 
our laud, this little volume is affectionately dedi- 
cated, with the hope that to some one of these it 
may bring a new conception of the Saviour. 



AUTHOR'S NOTE. 



The purpose the writer had in view in preparing this work was 
to put certain events in the life of Jesus in such a form as to lead 
young people to read them. If all our young people were Bible 
readers such an effort as this would be entirely unnecessary. The 
writer's earnest prayer is that those who read these pages may be 
induced to read and study carefully the pages of the Word contain- 
ing a record of the events here referred to. It is also his prayer that 
each one who reads this little work will see Jesus in a new light and 
find in Him the dearest and best Friend, for, of a truth, He is 
Immanuel: "God with us." With this prayer was the work 
undertaken. 

S. R. W. 
Ferndale, California. 



IMMANUEL. 






CHAPTER 1. 



eneath the shade of a spreading willow in a 
very beautiful spot on the bank of the River 
Jordan, sat two young men. The}' were Hebrews, 
Bar-elah and Eliab, by name. Evidently the con- 
versation in which they were engaged was an ex- 
ceedingly interesting one. 

The Jordan at this point presented a very 
beautiful appearance. The banks were thickly 
covered with trees. Great spreading willows were 
to be seen in abundance — occasionally there was 
an oleander in full bloom and now and then a 
tamarisk. Birds flitted about among the branches 
over head. The waters of the River were clear 



* 
village Bar-elah had been raised from infancy 

.is village Eliab had come some t 

Eliab was the older of the two; rather small 
of statue but well proportioned, and the twenty- 
two summers that had passed since he had first 
seen the light, had given him a darker complexion 
his friend had. Eliab loved Bar-elah as 
:d no other. The very sight of his filled 

him with delight and among the most bles 
hours of his life were those when lie communed 
alone with him. 

Bar-elah was a sturdy youth of eighteen, 
much taller than his companion and finely formed 
— a magnificent specimen, physically, of God's 
handiwork; a handsome body, a handsomer face. 
Eliab was a devout Hebrew youth, attending 
regularly at all the Synagogue services — and in- 

Bar-elah was 



- 

Limed on the morni ay when 

tv had sought the very first opportune 

c with his friend and had induced him to walk 
over to the river that they might be alone 
commune together. 

; dear Bar-elah," spoke Eliab, li I'm so 
glad you're home with us again, I have much to 

.k to you of There have been. some- wonder- 
ful occurrences since you left us. One John the 
Baptist, thought by some to be the Christ, went 
all through this country about Jordan preaching 
that men should repent of their sins, 'for," said he, 
'the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,' and great 
throngs of people went out to hear him and many 
of them he baptized in the Jordan. Why Elah'' 
for this was Eliab's favorite name for his friend, 
"I heard one day of this wonderful man and thought 
I to would go and sec and hear him — and so 1 

;■: expecting to see someone resembling some 



I MM A M' E I. 

of our teachers, but lo ! a man of uncouth appear- 
ance, with a raiment of coarse earners hair and a 
girdle of skin about his loins. Some said he re- 
sembled greatly our prophet of old — Elijah. But 
his preaching was powerful. And I saw Publicans 
and Pharisees and Sadducees and numbers of 
others baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their 
sins. He told us though of one who was to come 
after him, who was mightier than he, who would 
baptize men with the Holy Ghost." 

"And I am told that one da}' when he was 
thus preaching and baptizing, there came one who 
is called Jesus, to him, to be baptized of him. And 
shortly after, John saw this one called Jesus, who 
hails from Nazareth, and pointing to him he said: 
'Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
siu of the world.' " 

During all of Eliab's conversation he had had 
Bar-elarrs undivided attention for all this was 
news to him. He had had no opportunity to hear 
what was going on in his own land during his trip 
for his father. 

{ 'Where is this one called Jesus, now, Eliab? 
I'd like to see him. I wonder if he is not the one 
of whom I heard as I came along the Jordan on 1113' 



I MM A NUEL. g 

way home. We stopped a few moments to quench 
our thirst and found a curious old man on the 
bank of the river who was trying to explain some- 
thing to a boy with him. All I heard was some- 
thing about a place in the river, towards which 
the old man pointed, and I heard him say, 'there 
is where he was baptized. I was among the num- 
ber who saw it all. And oh ! such a beautiful, 
divine countenance.' " 

"It must have been he, Elah," answered Eliab. 
u And*do you know that we happened to be talk- 
ing about these events at home this morning, just 
before you came — and I heard my good mother 
tell of some events that occurred when she and 
father were first betrothed. She said that she re- 
membered very well hearing her people tell of a 
singular star that made its appearance one night 
and abode over the little town of Bethlehem. At 
the same time three strange looking magi came 
from the East and went first to Jerusalem and en- 
quired at the city gates as to where they could 
find 'he that is born King of the Jews, for' said they 
'we have seen his star in the east, and are come 
to worship him.' And upon hearing of this strange 
inquiry Herod gathered the Chief Priests and 



q I M M A NUEL. 

Scribes together and found from them that the 
Christ should be born in Bethlehem of Judaea and 
he sent the magi to Bethlehem and as they were 
. leaving the holy city the wonderful star made its 
appearance again to them and went before them 
until it stood over the place where the young child, 
whom they sought, was." 

"Yes Eliab, I have heard my good mother 
tell of the same strange occurrences. And I re- 
member hearing her tell that before this visit of 
the magi, the birth of this child was announced by 
an angel to some lowly shepherds on the plains of 
Bethlehem," answered Bar-elah. 

"And do they think," continued Bar-elah, 
who had become by this time, thoroughly inter- 
ested — "that this one is the Messiah so long looked 
for by Israel?" 

"Yes, many alread} 7 believe him to be the one 
who shall deliver Israel, Elah," answered Eliab. 

The conversation between the two young men 
continued in this line for some time. At length 
the two started for their homes, Eliab the mean- 
while rehearsing to his friend all that he had 
heard about this wonderful person, whom it was 
claimed was the Christ. 



1MMANLEL. I0 



As they neared the village their thoughts 
turned to the approaching celebration of the Pass- 
over. 

"How soon do you expect to leave to attend 
the Passover, Eliab?" asked Bar-elah. 

"Probably in the course of three or four days, 
Elah — and say, Elah — you go when I do, will 
you?" 

"All right Eliab I will," readily responded the 
other. "Do not our families plan to go together, 
anyway?" 

"Yes, I believe they do, and say, Elah, I was 
just thinking, perhaps we will be able to see this 
one who is called Jesus — for if he is a faithful 
Israelite he must needs attend the great Feast," 
suggested Eliab. 

"That's so Eliab and I'd like to see him, too." 

The days that intervened between the above 
conversation between the two boys and the day 
on wmich their people had decided to set out for 
Jerusalem, were busy ones — days of preparation 
in which everything must be made ready for the 
journey and for the feast. 

On the evening of the day before the start 
was to be made — Bar-elah went over to spend a 



XI I M MA NUEL. 

quiet hour with Eliab. They repaired to the 
house-top where all was quiet and where they 
might talk without disturbance. 

When they were settled comfortably, Bar-elah 
spoke: 

"O Eliab, my brother Eleazar just returned 
to-night from Cana of Galilee and he tells us that 
there is great excitement up there about this 
Jesus of Nazareth. He says that not long ago 
there was a marriage feast up there and Jesus 
with some of his followers — his disciples — were at 
the feast, and during the festivities it was found 
that the supply of wine had been exhausted and 
this Jesus made wine out of water. 

"Eleazar says, that the}' told him, and one of 
our cousins was a guest at the feast — this cousin 
I believe told Eleazar — that this Jesus saw six 
large waterpots of stone, and he directed the ser- 
vants to fill these to the brim with water — just 
common water, and then directed them to draw 
out the w T ater and lo ! it was wine ! At first some 
thought it was done through fraud but that 
couldn't be for the servants themselves testify 
that they knew not what was to happen and noth- 
ing was put into the water — and as far as I can 



/ MM A A U EL. I2 

learn Jesus did not as much as put his finger upon 
the waterpots. Surely this is the most astonish- 
ing miracle that I've heard of in my day." 

"Truly that was marvelous. My dear Elah, 
we must see this one if we can," was Eliab's answer. 



CHAPTER II. 



ll/ARLY on the morrow, among the companies 
v that set ont from the little village where Bar- 
elah and Eliab lived, was one company containing 
the two families to which these boys — or young 
men, belonged. There were just twelve in the 
party. 

It was a most beautiful spring morning. The 
roadside was lined with bright flowers, the fields 
on either side were fresh and green and were 
flecked with gaily colored flowers. 

It was not long before large numbers of trav- 
elers were to be seen along the road — all of them 
bound for Jerusalem to attend the great feast. 

Although the women and children were not 
obliged to go up to the feast at this time, yet the 
entire families to which our two young men be- 
longed, had turned out — Bar-elah's father and 
mother, three brothers, sister and himself, and 



IM M A Nb EL. I4 

Eliab's widowed mother, two brothers, sister and 
himself. And it was a merry compare too. It 
was a season for great rejoicing on the part of all 
devout Jews because of the mighty deliverance 
commemorated by the feast, and although some of 
the young people of the compan}' did not feel as 
truly thankful as perhaps they ought to have, yet 
they seemed to catch some of the spirit of thank- 
fulness manifested b} T their elders — and altogether 
it was an exceedingly happy company. 

The seven young men of the company were 
afoot while the other five of the part}' rode on 
asses. Occasionally a pause would be made be- 
neath some spreading sycamore, or at a . spring. 

At mid-day a short rest was taken in a very 
beautiful spot by the road-side, beneath a giant 
oak. There was some need of haste in order to 
reach the Hoi}- City before the close of the day, 
for Bar-elah's people had as yet no place selected 
in which to prepare the Passover. Eliab's people 
were to go to the home of his uncle. 

Toward evening the gate of the City was 
reached. Already large numbers of people had 
arrived and the roads approaching the City were 
thronged and crowds were about the gates. 



T - / .1/ .1/ y7 N U E L . 

"Elah," spoke up Eliab, as the company 
passed through the gate into the City — "mother 
thinks that our uncle can accommodate our 
whole company at his place — at least if you and I 
are willing to sleep upon the house-top together, 
and I guess we can agree to that can't we?" 

kk Most certainly we can Eliab. Three years 
ago the company we were with was late in ar- 
riving and had to pitch a couple of tents in order 
to find a place to stay, but this year we are early. 
And say Eliab, how do you plan to use the days 
between now and the feast? But then we can 
talk that over later. My what crowds there are 
already ! It seems to me I never saw so many 
people before. I wonder if he who is called Jesus 
is here yet." 

Upon arrival at the house of Japhlet — for this 
was the name of Eliab's uncle — room was found 
for the entire company, provided Eliab and Bar- 
elah took to the house-top, which proviso they 
readily agreed to. 

That night after retiring Bar-elah renewed 
his question of the evening: "How do you plan 
to use the next few days, Eliab ?" 

"Well Elah, I've been thinking that we 



I M MA i\ U E L. 



16 



might look about the Cit}- — visit the market-place, 
the bazaars, and the like, and the temple — and 
then too, it will be interesting to watch the crowds 
and who knows but what we may have an oppor- 
tunity to see this Jesus of Nazareth. Then too, 
we will probably find many of the young men of 
our town and others whom we know and a whole 
party of us can go over to Gethsamane and to the 
Mount of Olives." 

The days before the Passover passed just as 
Elifb had suggested. Old acquaintances were 
found, not only among those who dwelt in Jer- 
usalem but among those who came from the other 
parts of the land of the Jews. Many a quiet hour 
did our two young men spend together in Geth- 
samane, where beneath a giant olive they talked 
over events that had transpired during the time 
they had been separated. Frequent references 
were made to the Christ for there was a desire on 
the part of each boy to see Him. On the part of 
Bar-elah, it was probably nothing more than mere 
curiosity, but on the part of Eliab, there was a feel- 
ing that possibly after all this one might be the one 
that some claimed Him to be, the long-promised, 
the long-looked for, the long-prayed for Messias. 



, - I M MA NUE I.. 

One morning just before the opening of the 
feast, Eliab awoke first and while waiting for Bar- 
elah to awake he thought of various plans for the 
day, but the one that seemed "to impress him most 
favorably, included a visit to the temple. As 
soon as Bar-elah awoke Eliab made known his 
plans and they were readily agreed to. 

A few hours later found the two young men 
standing side by side within the sacred enclosure. 
There were many other visitors for by this time 
the City was crowded with people from the other 
parts of the land. Most of the people seemed to 
be about the court in which those were to be 
found, who dealt in sheep and oxen and doves for 
the temple sacrifices. These dealers were kept 
busy disposing of their stock to those who desired 
the animals for sacrifice. Numerous changers of 
mone}' were found in this court, these too did a 
brisk business changing the various coins brought 
in by the people from outside of Jerusalem, into 
the half-shekel of the sanctuaiy. All was bustle 
and confusion. Men jostled against one another 
as they passed from stall to stall. The bleating 
of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle and the 
rattle of the money was accompanied by the shout- 



7MMAADEL. jg 

ing of dealers — and all this within the enclosure 
which had been solemnly dedicated to Jehovah. 

Our two young men stood silently together 
taking in the scene when suddenly there was great 
confusion among the dealers and their cattle — 
and there was a general scattering. Upon their 
looking to ascertain the cause of all this, the boys 
saw one — Himself a young man, having a scourge 
of cords or rushes in His hand — and as they looked 
they saw Him drive the sellers of the oxen and 
sheep out of the temple and then turning to the 
money changers He caused their money to be 
poured out and then He overthrew their tables. 
Then to those that sold doves He said, with 
authority : : 'Take these things hence ; make not 
my Father's house an house of merchandise. " 

Some of the Jews who saw what had been 
done, at once demanded of him the authority by 
which He had thus purged the temple. His answer 
to their question was : 

"Destroy this temple and in three days I 
will raise it up." 

His answer astonished the Jews for said they: 
"Forty and six years was this temple in building 
and wilt thou rear it up in three days ?" 



X q I M MA NUE L. 

Bar-elah and Eliab were interested spectators 
o{ all these occurrences — but the quern with 

eaeli was as to whom this one could be — this one 
who had assumed suddenly so much authority, 
certain!}* He was not of the Priests. The face 
attracted them, for while they could see the evi- 
dences there of the anger that was felt because of 
the gross sacrilege that had so long been permit- 
ted, still the boys saw a face of singular, divine 
beauty. As He passed from the court followed by 
a little company who seemed to be His followers 
— Bar-elah ventured to ask one of the number as 
to whom this young man might be. 

"Jesus of Nazareth," was all the response Bar- 
elali received, but it was enough. Eliab heard it 
as plainly as did his companion. It had a strange 
effect on both 3'oung men. The very words 
seemed to thrill Eliab. Never before had Bar- 
elah, apparently so indifferent to religious truth, 
looked so serious. All the boys could do was to 
stand and look at this one -concerning whom they 
had heard but whom neither had ever seen befure. 
And as the}* looked the face of the Christ seemed 
to grow more radiant and divine, until, finally 
Eliab drew his friend to him and said softly : 



7 MM A A U E L. 20 

"Truly, Elah, this is He." 
*#■:'.'*■*. *' . - - * 

The Passover was observed in the usual 
manner by the families to which Eliab and Bar- 
elah belonged. On the afternoon of the 14th of 
the month, Eliab's uncle, Japhlet, representing the 
company gathered at his home to observe the 
Passover, took the paschal lamb into the court of 
the temple where it was killed and dressed. The 
blood was given to the Priests who sprinkled it on 
the altar, and the fat was burned upon the altar. 
During all of this the Levites sang the hymn of 
praise prescribed for this ceremony. 

When Japhlet reached his home the lamb was 
at once made ready for roasting, and after the 
15th day had commenced, that is, when it had 
become dark, the little company consisting of 
Eliab's uncle, aunt and five cousins, with the 
families to which Eliab and Bar-elah belonged — 
nineteen souls in all — this company gathered 
about the Passover-table and partook of the Pass- 
over-lamb, the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread 
and whatever else was provided. 

Bar-elah listened more attentively than ever 



2i I M MA NU.E /. . 

before to the declaration of the meaning of the 
feast, as made by Japhlet during the progress of 
the Passover-meal. This declaration impressed 
Eliab more forcibly than ever. Was it because 
their eyes had just shortly before rested upon One 
whom some believed to be the Messias ? 



CHAPTER III. 



J*J Y 

>/^VFTER the days for the observance of the 
feast were fulfilled, the little company con- 
taining Bar-elah and Eliab returned to the little 
village from whence it had come. 

The months that followed were spent quietly 
by our two young men, in their village homes — 
Eliab prosecuting his studies and Bar-elah assist- 
ing his father in the work connected with the 
little parcel of ground upon which they lived, and 
upon the produce of which they depended for 
their livelihood. 

Nearly a year passed in this way. Nothing 
much was ever heard about Jesus. The village 
was not visited much by outsiders and little was 
heard regarding events at any distance. 

Many an hour were the two friends to be 
found together talking earnestly about the few 
wonderful works of Jesus of which they had heard. 



9 o 1 M M A NUEL. 

One evening they were sitting together upon the 
house-top watching the setting sun and chatting 

together when news was brought to Bar-elah's 
father which made it necessary for Bar-elah to 
start next morning for the city of Samaria. 

"Say Eliab," said Bar-elah when his father 
had returned to the rooms beiow, "you go home 
and tell your mother that you're going with me 
to-morrow and then come stay with me and we'll 
get a good early start — start at the rising of the 
sun — will you my boy ?" 

"Oh. my dear Elah, I would so much like to 
go with you, but — " and Eliab thought a moment, 
—"all right Elah, I'll go," and with that he was 
off. In a few moments he returned with the few 
things he needed for his journey. 

With the rising of the sun the two young 
men were on their wa}' — each mounted upon an ass. 

The journe}' was a pleasant one, but the boys 
felt glad, when after having been hindered some- 
what on their journey — they arrived on the third 
day within sight of the city of Samaria. Neither 
boy had ever visited the city before. Bar-elah's 
father had never before, to his son's knowledge, 
had any dealings in the land of the despised 



1M MANUEL. 2 a 

Samaritans. Every thing at first looked strange 
to them. Once in a great while a Jew wonld be 
seen but never as much as talking with a 
Samaritan. 

As Bar-elah and Eliab neared the city they 
found by the road-side, a young man, to all ap- 
pearances, a Samaritan, who was evidently in 
trouble. His beast of burden had become fractious 
or frightened and had spilt the pack from off its 
back and the young man was having a hard time 
trying to fix things. As the boys drew nearer 
the}' saw that he was struggling with a load that 
was realty too much for him. 

"Let's help him Elah, even if he is a despised 
Samaritan," suggested Eli^b, for his heart had 
been touched after witnessing the fruitless efforts 
of the young man to right matters, and he really 
felt sorry for him. 

Our two young men proffered their help 
which was gladly accepted and the 3^oung man 
was profuse with his thanks. 

"I perceive that you are both Jews," said he 
as he eyed them from head to foot. u One of your 
people has created a great stir in some parts of our 
land. The whole city of Sychar is aroused be- 
cause of his doings." 



2 - 1 M M A NUE /.. 

"Who is he and where does he hail from and 
what does he do that's wonderful — if you'll pardon 
so many questions," asked Eliab. 

"Jesus of Nazareth," was the only response 
from the young Samaritan. 

Bar-elah and Eliab looked at one another in 
astonishment. -Was it possible that this One 
whom they had seen so zealous for the sacred 
temple of the Jews was now among the hated 
Samaritans ? 

And was it possible that they might again 
get a glimpse of that wonderfully attractive face? 

The boys seemed to read one another's 
thoughts for the}' spoke not a word. 

"We saw this One in Jerusalem at the great 
feast," spoke up Eliab, after a moment or two — 
"but had no hopes of finding Him here in Samaria." 

"Oh he was merely passing through our land 
on his way to Galilee," explained the young 
Samaritan. 

"But what great work has He been doing here 
in your land?" asked Bar-elah, and Eliab noticed 
a real evidence of interest on the part of his friend. 

"Well," began the 3'oung Samaritan, "it seems 
he had been working or teaching down in Judaea 



1 MM r A AD EL. 



26 



after he had attended the Passover of the Jews at 
Jerusalem, and then decided to go into Galilee, 
but instead of crossing the Jordan and going 
through Perea as so many of the Jews do, in order 
to avoid us, he, with some of his disciples, came 
right through our land to the city of Sychar. 
That is the place you know, near which Jacob's 
well is situated. Pie forthwith sent his disciples 
into the city to buy meat — and being weary and 
thirsty from his journey he sat on the well to rest. 
While he sat thus a woman came to draw water 
from the well — and he being thirsty asked her to 
give him to drink, of the water she drew. His re- 
quest astonished her and she could not refrain 
from giving expression to her astonishment — to 
think that he, a Jew, would ask drink of one who 
was a woman of Samaria, seeing the Jews had no 
dealings with the Samaritans. But her astonish- 
ment seemed the greater when he told her that he 
could give her to drink of living water and after 

drinking of it she would never thirst again. 

Said he : 'Whosoever drinketh of this water' — 
meaning that which the woman had drawn — 
'shall thirst again ; but whosoever drinketh of the 
water that I shall give him shall never thirst ; 



2 ~ 1 M MA NUEL. 

but the water that I shall give him shall be in him 

a well of water springing up into everlasting life.' 
These are the words the woman repeated after- 
wards. Rather a queer statement is it not? 

"But more than that — this man — and I after- 
wards learned that he is called Jesus of Nazareth 
— this one, as the woman afterwards testified to 
the men of the city, told her all things that ever 
she did. She was one who had done wickedl}' 
and he told her all about it. More than that, he 
declared himself to be the Messias. 

"After this she went into the city and told the 
men all about the wonderful things that this one 
who claims to be the Messias, told her. The re- 
sult was that large numbers went out of the city to 
where he was — and man}' of them believed on him. 
So many, in fact, that the Samaritans besought 
him to tarry with them a season and he did so — 
remaining for two days. During that time man}' 
more of the city believed after hearing him speak. 
Some of them declaring him to be the Christ, the 
Saviour of the world." 

"And is he still in Samaria ?" asked Bar-elah 
who with Eliab, had given undivided attention to 
all the young Samaritan had told them. 



/ M M A A EL. 2 g 

"No," was the young man's reply. "After 
two days he went into Galilee. Of course I do 
not know as much about his doings there as I do 
of those nearer my home — for I too belong to 
Sychar. But my brother is among those who 
believe Jesus to be the Christ and he of course 
feels interested enough to keep posted on all that 
this one does and only yesterday he had from one 
who had come from Capernaum a full report of the 
wonderful things done there. 

"This Jesus it seems has been teaching in 
their synagogues in Galilee and a fame of him 
went through all the country round about. It 
seems that one day he went to Cana in Galilee, 
where it is said, he had more than a year before, 
miraculously made wine out of water. A certain 
ruler or nobleman living in Capernaum and whose 
son was at the point of death, heard that Jesus 
was in Cana and went over to him and begged 
him to go down to Capernaum and heal his son — 
but instead of going, this Jesus simply said to him : 
'Go thy way; thy son liveth.' And the ruler be- 
lieved what he said and started for home. On the 
way he met his servants who were on their way to 
Cana to tell him that his son was better and upon 



2 q / .1/ MA NUEL. 

inquiry it was found that at the very hour in which 
this Jesus had said 'thy son liveth,' the fever left 
him." 

"Then," continued the young Samaritan, "he 
went to Nazareth, the city where he had been 
brought up and on the Sabbath day went into 
their Synagogue and opening the book of the 
prophet Esaias he read a prophesy concerning the 
Messias and expounded the Scriptures to the peo- 
ple and declared that that day that Scripture 
which he had read was fulfilled in their hearing. 
And the people wondered because of the gracious 
words that he spake but after a time the} 7 became 
so filled with wrath that the}' thrust him out of 
the city and took him to the brow of the hill, in- 
tending to cast him over, but he just quietly 
walked out from among them and went his way, 
and went down to Capernaum." 

The relating of these occurrences excited 
both Bar-elah and Eliab with a greater desire 
than ever the} 7 had had before to sec the Christ 
and to see some of His w r onderful works. They 
had neither of them moved even so much as a 
finger while their newly made acquaintance had 
been rehearsing the doings of Jesus. Within the 



1 M MANUEL. in 

heart of Eliab there seemed to be a feeling that 
this one must, indeed, be the Messias. Bar-elah 
felt interested to a certain extent. 

"Well where is He now?" asked Eliab. 

"In Capernaum," answered the Samaritan — 
"But I must hasten on my journey,'' he continued 
and again he expressed his thanks to the boys for 
their help. 

"I feel that we ought to thank you," was 
Eliab's response, "for we have heard a great deal 
from you that interests us Jews." And the two 
went on their \va}^ into the city while the Samari- 
tan went his way along the country road. 

"A fine face Elah," said Eliab referring to 
the young man. 

"Kind of nice fellows, if they are Jews," said 
the young Samaritan to himself as he looked back 
at them — "and fine specimens of young man- 
hood too." 



CHAPTER IV. 



)AR-ELAH attended to his father's business 
> v immediately upon arriving in the city of 
Samaria and as no hospitality was shown the Jews 
by the Samaritans, the boys concluded that their 
stay in the city would not be very pleasant hence 
• they decided to leave at once and to sleep by the 
road-side on the way home, rather than stay in 
the city, and so at about the ninth hour they 
passed through the gates on their home ward 
journey. The nights were quite pleasant and not 
at all uncomfortable. During the interval be- 
tween the interview with the young man of 
Samaria, and the hour for returning, both the 
boys seemed to be deeply engaged with their 
thoughts. Neither of them said very much. 
Eliab noticed that Bar-elah seemed especially 
serious. 

It was a beautiful night. The moon shone 



I MM AAV EL. ~ 2 

forth in all her glory. It was very light. After 
they had rolled themselves up in their cloaks for 
the night, Bar-elali, who lay close to Eli^b's side, 
said : 

"Eliab, don't you know I'd like to see more 
of this Jesus of Nazareth. I'd like to see him 
perforin some of the miracles that are spoken of." 

"Yes, my dear Elah," replied Eliab, raising 
himself partly and looking into the face he loved 
— "and I'd like to hear some of the gracious words 
that He speaks and feast my eyes on that divine 
countenance." 

"Well I've done some thinking since our talk 
with that young Samaritan and I've a plan to 
suggest to you Eliab. It may be worth your 
thoughts for a while if worth nothing more. I 
was thinking that we might just as well go back 
to Capernaum for a while after we get home and 
spend a little time there — perhaps as long as Jesus 
remains there — and thus have an opportunity to 
see more of him. You know I have an uncle 
there and I know they'll make room for us and be 
glad to have us visit with them a while. What 
think you ? Will you join me in this, Eliab ?" 

Eliab did not respond for a moment. 



^ I M M A NUEL. 

"Oh Eliab that's just what I have been wish- 
ing for man}- weeks, that we might do. Yes, of 
course I'll join you uiy friend. Capernaum, you 
know, was our home for some six or seven }-ears 
and I have friends to whom we can go if need be." 

"That's so — well we will go if you agree." 

"I agree," responded Eliab heartily. 

When the two 3 r oung men reached their 
homes they at once made their plans known to 
their parents. At first Bar-elah's mother objected 
seriously to his going. 

"Why," said she, u who knows what false 
prophet this one may be or whether or not he is 
possessed of a devil." But after being reminded 
of the fact that her son Bar-elah was by no means 
interested in religious matters and that it was 
probably nothing but mere idle curiosity that 
prompted him to plan this trip and the fur- 
ther fact that his companion Eliab was a thor- 
oughl}- devout Hebrew — one who was in some re- 
spects one of the most promising ones of the faith 
— she felt that it probably would not hurt the 
boys to go. 

"For," said she, "if there's anything bad 
about it Eliab will find it out and shield Bar-elah 



1M MANUEL. <-, 

from its influences — and if there's anything good 
about it — I want them both to embrace it." 

The two young men made hasty preparations 
for their journey and the next day saw them on 
their way — and they went right through Samaria 
too, not desiring to lose time by going by way of 
Perea — and too, they rather hoped that in the 
neighborhood of Sychar they might see again the 
young Samaritan whom the} 7 had befriended and 
from whom they had learned so man}' things re- 
garding the Christ — but when Sychar was reached 
the young man was not to be seen. 

They travelled more than an ordinary day's 
journey each day; "For," as Eliab had said, u we 
must reach Capernaun before the Sabbath and we 
must need make great haste." A few hours be- 
fore the commencement of the Sabbath, Bar-elah 
knocked at the door of his uncle's house in Caper- 
naum. The two young men were bidden enter 
and both were accorded a very hearty welcome. 

When the Sabbath had come, in the cool of 
the evening, the two boys, as was their custom at 
home when together, went up to the house-top, 
there to commune. 

"It occurred to me this evening Elah," said 



^ [MM A NUEL. 

Eliab, "that He who is called the Christ will surely 

worship at the Synagogue and that large numbers 
who have been negligent about attending will be 
there and we had better go early in order to get 
in for we must see the Christ as soon as we can." 

Some little time before the appointed hour 
for service the people began to gather at the 
Synagogue, Bar-elah and Eliab among them. It 
was evident that when the time for the service to 
commence would arrive, the place would be well 
filled. Shortly before the services the young men 
noticed a movement on the part of the whole con- 
gregation and looking in the direction in which 
every eye was turned — the eyes of our young men 
rested upon the person of Jesus of Nazareth. And 
oh ! such a radiance as was to be seen in that 
face ! It seemed lighted withjihe glory of heaven. 
The bo3^s did not take their eyes off of Him for an 
instant and Bar-elah found Eliab grasping his 
hand with a death-like grip. 

But all stir was hushed in an instant when 
the solemn service began. Suddenly every eye 
was again turned toward the Christ as He slowly 
arose from His seat and assumed a position of 
authority. Every eye was fixed on Him ; every- 



J M MA A b EL. 



36 



thing was as still as death ; every ear was opened 
eager to hear the first word this wonderful man 
should speak. And when He spoke those who 
heard were astonished at His teaching, for He did 
not teach as did the Scribes, but as one who had 
authority. But suddenly there was an interruption 
and one was heard to cry out : 

"Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee, 
thou Jesus of Nazareth ? art thou come to destroy 
us ? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One 
of God." 

Every eye was fixed upon the one who thus 
cried out and it was seen that he was one posses- 
sed with a spirit of an unclean devil. Then 
every eye was turned to Him of whom even the 
unclean spirit had testified that He was the Holy 
One of God. But He only quietly rebuked him, 
saying : "Hold thy peace, and come out of him." 
Then was witnessed a struggle as the unclean 
spirit tore the man and wrestled with him — but 
the devil obeyed the command and came out of 
the man and left him sound and well. 

Amazement filled the people. With astonish- 
ment one was heard to say : "What thing is 
this?" Another asked, "What new doctrine is 



oy 1 M M A NUEL. 

this ? for,' 1 said they, "with authority com- 
ma ndeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do 
obey him." 

Our two young men were as much astonished 
as were any. Never had they heard of such 
things; never had the}- seen anything like this. 

"Truly, Elah,'' said Eliab slipping his arm 
about Bar-elah as they went forth from the Syna- 
gogue, "this must be the Christ, 'the Messias. 
And surely if He can cleanse a man of an evil 
spirit He can cleanse him of the evil that's within 
his heart." 

Bar-elah was thoughtful and heard all his 
friend said, but he said nothing — the only evi- 
dence that he gave that he had heard his com- 
panion was the pressure he gave his hand. 

As the people went forth from the Synagogue 
at the close of the services the}' carried the news 
of Christ's power everywhere until his fame 
spread throughout all Galilee. After He had 
gone out of the Synagogue He went to the home 
of one Simon, whose wife's mother was sick with 
a great fever. Jesus simply rebuked the fever 
and she who had been sick was immediately cured 
and arose from her couch and ministered unto 



1 M M A NUE L. 



38 



Jesus and His disciples who were with Him. The 
news of this miraculous cure at once spread every- 
where about the city. Bar-elah and Eliab both 
heard of it. Towards the close of the Sabbath 
Bar-elah's uncle came to where the boys were sit- 
ing in the garden and said to them : 

"It would, perhaps, be well for you to go, at 
the setting of the sun down to Simon's house, for 
I hear that every one in the city who has a sick 
one is going to take that one down there to Jesus 
of Nazareth to he healed. Aged Mattaniah, who 
lives in the next house, infirm as he is, is planning 
to take his sick and crippled grandson — a fine 
young man, but oh, such a sufferer — he plans to 
have him carried down to this Jesus." 

The uncle had no idea how welcome this 
news was to the boys. They at once said they 
would go that way and they immediately started. 
As the}' walked along the}* saw those who were 
diseased and even some who were possessed of 
devils, going or being taken towards the house of 
Simon. There were mothers carrying sickly 
babes in their arms. There were parents leading 
children having divers diseases. Young men who 
had lost all the brightness and life and bloom of 



.q I M M A NUEL. 

youth — old men who were racked with disease — 
some of them walking with the help of staffs — 
some being led by friends, some being carried on 
beds — but all going in the one direction. 

Our two young men had not gone far before 
they overtook aged Mattaniah as he trudged along 
beside the bed upon which lay the suffering young 
grandson. Bar-elah caught just one glimpse of 
the face and heard only one expression from the 
little party and that came as a moan from the 
sufferer. The face, though not beautiful, as the 
world uses the term, was to Bar-elah one of 
unusual attractiveness- The words that Bar-elah 
heard from the lips of the sufferer were these : 
"Oh, if he only can !" They touched Bar-elah, 
for he realized they meant a great deal. 

The two boys hurried along. As the} T came 
iu view of the house they could see that already 
a large crowd had gathered in front of the door. 

"The whole city must be gathered there," 
said Bar-elah. 

"It looks like it," replied Eliab. And it was 
the truth for ere long the whole city was gathered 
at the door. It was an anxious throng— anxious 
for the coming forth of the One who had alread} T 



1 M M A A E L. 4Q 

proven Himself to be the great physician. 

The door opened and He came forth and oh, 
what compassion, what love, what mercy beamed 
in His very countenance ! There was a stir in 
the throng as they all tried to get to Him with 
their loved ones who were diseased or possessed. 
The Christ simply laid His hands on the sick and 
they were healed. Mothers whose babes had 
been sick went away with hearts aglow with 
thanksgiving as they looked into the faces of the 
little ones who were now well and strong — simply 
through the touch of the Christ. Old men left 
their staffs behind, and walked off as briskly as in 
their youth. The diseased and tortured were re- 
stored to perfect health. 

Our two young men looked on with amaze- 
ment. Such strange and unheard of sights ! They 
watched closely so as to see when aged Mattaniah 
went up to the Christ with his grandson. 

"There he goes," whispered Eliab to Bar-elah. 
"See, they have reached the Christ." 

For a moment He stood over the bed whereon 
the young man lay — then stretching forth His 
hand He touched him. The young man arose 
and stood before them all, perfectly restored. 



^ x IM M A NUEL. 

Wonder of wonders ! No more longings for health, 
no more torture of pain. Oh ! wonderful touch ! 
Oh blessed hand ! Oh glorious Christ ! 

Then too, some who were possessed with 
devils were there, and by speaking the word, the 
Christ caused the evil spirits to come forth and as 
they did so they cried out with a loud voice : 

"Thou art Christ the Son of God.' 1 

When Eliab heard this testimony his heart 
was thrilled for he felt a response there, for surely, 
thought he, this must be the Christ of God. 

After the healing and when Christ had 
quietly retired from the presence of the multitude 
that thronged about the door — Bar-elah and 
Eliab started for the house of the uncle, and as 
they walked along they overtook aged Mattaniah 
who was now leaning upon the strong arm of .his 
grandson Eliphaz. Oh ! how different was it but 
a short time before when this same young man 
was tortured with pain and disease and was being 
carried by others through this same street! Bar- 
elah remembered the longing expressed by Eli- 
phaz when he passed him on his way to the Christ. 

The face that had appeared attractive to Bar- 
elah when first he saw it, was doubly so now, for 



1M MANUEL. 42 

the flush and life and beaut}' of youth had re- 
turned. 

When the two young men had gone to their 
bed-chamber they sat together for some time talk- 
ing about the events of the Sabbath and of the 
evening. 

"My dear Elah," said Eli^b, drawing closer to 
his friend, "I believe this Jesus is, indeed, the 
Messias. And it seems to me that One who can 
cleanse men of physical defilement can also cleanse 
men from all defilement because of sin. How pure 
and holy and Godlike He looks. I want to belike 
Him, Elah. I can't help but think of the wonder- 
ful change in the aged neighbor's grandson. Yes, 
this Jesus must be the Messias for whom we have 
looked so long." 

Bar-elah made no response except to clasp 
his companion's hand in his own. Eliab knew 
that Bar-elah was thinking deeply. 

As Eliab fell asleep he thought he heard 
again these words : 

"Thou art Christ, the Son of God." 



CHAPTER V . 



^O the great disappointment of Bar-elah and 
Eliab the stay of Jesus and His disciples in 
Capernaum was necessarily very short as He 
must needs go into the other cities of Galilee, and 
He did so, preaching in their Synagogues. The 
first thought of our young men was to follow the 
Christ for several of the town people had done so — 
but they were not able to depart from the city for 
several days. Those were anxious days for them 
both and it was with great 303^ that they hailed 
the morn on which they were able to take their 
departure from the city to follow the Christ. 

After a long day's journey they found they 
were not far from where He was laboring among 
the people. They found that He had continued 
His great work of healing and that great numbers 
had been restored. They also found that great 
multitudes of people were following Him from 



J MM AAV EL. .. 

one place to another — not only people from Gal- 
ilee bnt also from Decapolis and from Jerusalem, 
and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. 

The next day Bar-elah, with Eliab, stood once 
more in the presence of Jesus of Nazareth. A 
large number of people were following Him, 
anxious to hear every word that proceeded out of 
His mouth and to see everything that He did. 
Suddenly there was a scattering of the crowd — or 
rather an opening made through the midst of it as 
a man, full of leprosy, was seen approaching Jesus 
as hastily as he could. Every one drew back from 
him fearing, iest his garment should touch theirs 
and they thereby become defiled and possibly 
have that dreaded, that awful disease conveyed to 
them. No one sought to hinder his approach for 
no one dared touch him. 

Bar-elah and Eliab looked on in wonder. Did 
this one who was making directly for the Christ — 
did this one intend to touch and thus defile the 
Christ? Every eye was upon him. Would the 
Christ get out of his way or suffer him not to 
come near Him ? 

But see — he falls on his face before Jesus — 
and what are those words he utters ? Bar-elah 



45 IM MA NUEL. 

and Eliab heard them. 

"Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me 
clean." What will the Christ do ? Can he cleanse 
one so terribly afflicted ? 

Those who looked into the face of the Christ 
saw there a look of wonderful compassion. And 
what is this He does ? He stretches forth His 
hand and touches the leper and says to him : 

"I will; be thou clean." 
And straightway he was cleansed of his leprosy, 
and although Jesus charged him particularly that 
he was to tell no man of this, he who had been 
cleansed went out and published everywhere that 
he could, the news of his wonderful cleansing. 
The effect of this was that Jesus w r as unable to 
enter openly into the city — because of the im- 
mense multitudes. that came to Him, but had to 
resort to desert places — and even there the people 
flocked to him from every quarter, Bar-elah and 
Eliab being among those w T ho followed Him. 

They heard that Jesus was soon to return to 
Capernaum and after some days followed by much 
people, He did so. Bar-elah and Eli^b returned 
to the city also. It was soon noised abroad that 
Jesus was there and a great throng of people 



J MM A NU EL. 



46 



gathered about the house, so there was not room 
to enter. 

Bar-elah and Eliab, however, arrived in time 
to secure an entrance and while there they saw 
another of Jesus' mighty works, for one sick with 
the palsy was brought and when those who bore 
him came to the house — for he was borne of four 
— they could not gain an entrance into the house 
so they went to the house-top and let the sick of 
the palsy down through the roof until he came be- 
fore the spot where Jesus stood preaching the 
word to the multitude that had gathered about 
Him. And oh such wonderful and gracious words 
as He spake! Every one of them thrilled Eliab 
and as he fixed his eyes upon Jesus, as He spake, 
it seemed to Eliab that he must accept this One 
as the Messias, the Son of God. 

The sick of the palsy lay before Jesus, looking 
pitiously into the face so full of tenderness and 
love and compassion. 

Jesus seeing their faith saith to the man : 
"Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." 

Immediately some of the scribes and Phari- 
sees whispered among themselves, charging the 
Christ with blaspheir^ for presuming, as they 



4 y IM MA NUEL. 

thought, to forgive sins. But Jesus knew their 
thoughts, although He did not hear their murinur- 
ings, and He said to them : "Why reason ye these 
things in your hearts ? Whether is it easier to 
sa}' to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven 
thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and 
walk ? But that ye may know that the Son of 
man hath power on earth to forgive sins, I say 
unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy 
way into thine house." 

And the man arose in the presence of all of 
them, took up his bed, and walked away — a cured 
man — a perfectly restored man — and as he went 
he glorified God. And those who witnessed this 
wonderful cure, were amazed and many of them 
also, glorified God. 

Not only did the words of Christ and the 
proof He gave the ' Pharisees, answer the ques- 
tions in the hearts of the scribes and Pharisees — 
but they also answered a question in the heart 
of Eliab. 

He had through the teachings of Christ which 
he had heard, been aroused to a sense of his need 
of forgiveness of sin and now the words he heard 
from those divine lips : 



J MM A A b EL. ,g 

"That ye may know that the Son of man hath 
power on earth to forgive sins," — and the evidence 
of this, made him feel that he too ought to become 
a disciple of the Christ and when alone with his 
companion he said to him : 

u Elah, I believe that this Jesus of Nazareth 
is the Son of the living God — and that He has 
power to forgive sins and I purpose following 
Him." 

Bar-elah made no audible reply, but Eliab 
read in his friend's face, as their eyes met, a re- 
spouse which he saw was not at all unfavorable to 
his plans. 

"And, Eiah," continued Eli^b, U I mean to 
leave all and follow Him — but I want you my 
friend to go with me even if you do not feel just 
as I do about it." 

"Well, I'll tell you, Eliab," answered Bar- 
elah, "while I don't feel at all as you do, I do want 
to go with you wherever you go. I haven't seen 
enough of him yet. But I don't want people to 
think I'm one of his followers for I don't feel 
exactly as you do, Eliab." 

Eliab had truly been born anew and was now 
a son of God. His soul was filled with -joy un- 



40 I M M A KU E L. 

speakable, and the peace that passeth all under- 
standing. He had found in Jesus the Great Phy- 
sician who had power to heal the soul of all 
diseases. 

His great concern now was for his own dear 
Elah. Oh ! such a burden as rested upon his 
heart for this one whom he loved ! and the thought 
last in his mind as he dropped off to sleep as he 
lay beside Bar-elah that night was, "Oh that I 
might bring my Elah, diseased with sin, to the 
blessed Christ, that He might touch him and 
heal him !" 



CHAPTER VI. 

"HE time for the Passover drew nigh and 
^again every road was filled with caravans of 
devont Jews, all headed towards Jerusalem, where 
they were going to attend the great feast. Jesus 
and His disciples were among those who went 
from Capernaum. Bar-elah, Eliab and Eliphaz, 
with whom our young men had now become well 
acquainted, were among those who went up to 
Jerusalem. 

On the Sabbath day Jesus went to the pool of 
Bethesda, which is by the sheep gate, and there 
He found a great multitude of blind, withered, 
halt, diseased ones waiting until the water of the 
pool should be stirred, for at such times, when the 
waters would gush forth from the springs feeding 
the pool, it was held that at such times the cura- 
tive properties of the pool were increased and then 
it was that all those lying in the porches surround- 
ing the pool, would at once hurry into the water. 



cj I M M A X U E L . 

Jesus found one poor, lonely, helpless, infirm man, 
who could not drag himself down to the pool be- 
fore the stirring of the water had ceased and 
others had crowded him out. This man had been 
infirm thirty and eight years and had during the 
time he had been there at the pool made repeated 
efforts to find relief, but all in vain. 

Jesus saw this man and knowing his case fall 
well approached him. Bar-elah and Eliab stood 
near. Jesus said to the man : "Wilt thou be 
made whole ?" 

The poor man knew not who it was that 
spoke to him, but still depending entirely upon 
the waters of the pool for relief, explained to Jesus 
the difficulty of his getting into the water when it 
was stirred. But Jesus simply said to him : — 
"Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." And imme- 
diately he did so. Thereupon the Jews murmured 
against the man for he carried his bed on the 
Sabbath and according to their belief this was 
unlawful. The only defense the man put forth, 
however, was that this One who had made him 
whole had told him to take up his bed. 

Afterwards in the temple Jesus • revealed 
Himself to the man — and the man departed from 



JMMAAbEL. r 2 

the temple and told the Jews that it was Jesus who 
had healed him of his infirmity. Upon hearing 
this the Jews sought to persecute and slay Jesus, 
simply because He had made this man whole on 
the Sabbath day. Jesus answered the Jews at 
some length. In His discourse to them, among 
other blessed truths uttered was this : 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hear- 
eth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, 
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into con- 
demnation ; but is passed from death unto life." 

Oh ! how those words thrilled Eliab's heart ! 

"Blessed, blessed words," thought he. "Just 
what I have experienced. O give thanks unto 
the Lord, I have passed from death unto life — 
condemnation no longer rests upon me." His 
face shone with the light that was in his soul. 

"Eliab ," said Bar-elah as they walked along 
the street a little later, "You seem so happy, why 
is it ? I wish I could feel as bright as you do — 
wh}^ boy, your face literally shines, 3^011 are so 
happy." 

"Oh Elah," replied Eliab slipping his arm 
through Bar-elah 's, "it is my new found jo}^ 
through believing in Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, 



j- 3 I M MA NUEL. 

the Son of God. And oh! how I wish this joy 

was yours !" 

They walked on in silence. 
* -x- * -x- -x- •::- 

After the feast of the Passover, Jesus returned 
to ( ; alilee with His disciples. Eliab accompanied 
by Bar-elah, followed Him thither — and almost 
immediately after their arrival had another oppor- 
tunity of seeing one of His wonderful works. It 
was the Sabbath and Jesus and His disciples had 
gone to the Synagogue. Bar-elah and Eliab 
were there. There was also in the Synagogue a 
man whose hand was withered. Jesus spoke to 
the man and told him to stand forth in the midst 
of them. He did so, and then after He had ques- 
tioned the murmuring Jews as to whether or not 
it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath da}' and 
receiving no response from them — Jesus saith 
unto the man : 

"Stretch forth thine hand,'' — and to the 
amazement of every one the man stretched forth 
his withered, helpless, seemingly lifeless hand and 
it was full\- healed and restored. Bar-elah looked 
at Eliab with amazement. Astonishment was 
written upon every line of his countenance. But 



1MMANUEL. r. 

some of the Jews present were filled with wrath 
and at once began, after they had gone out from 
the Synagogue, to counsel together against Jesus. 
Eliab's belief in Jesus was stronger than ever, 
while Bar-elah had to admit to his friend that : 
"Surely it does seem as if this One must have 

►been sent from God." 
When Jesus knew of the plans of the Jews 
against Him, He at once quietly withdrew and 
went to the Sea of Galilee. Great multitudes fol- 
lowed Him, not only from Galilee but also from 
Tyre and Sidon and from be}'ond the Jordan, 
many of them diseased and all of them eager to 
touch Him, because of the virtue that came from 
Him and that cured their diseases and cast out 
their unclean spirits. As we might well expect, 
Bar-elah and Eliab were both among the people 
who thronged about Jesus. 

When Jesus looked upon the multitude that 
had followed Him, He went up into a mountain 
and sat down to teach them. He uttered many 
wonderfully gracious words. Truths that thrilled 
the hearts of His hearers. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit :" said He, "for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they 



cr I M MA NUE /.. 

that mourn : for they shall be comforted. Blessed 
are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst : 
righteousness : for they shall be filled. Blessed 
are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall see 
God. Blessed are the peacemakers : for they 
shall be called the children of God." 

Such statements as these, the multitudes had 
not heard from any other teacher. 

"Ye are the salt of the earth :" said Jesus. 
"Ye are the light of the world." 

"The salt of the earth," thought Eliab, as he 
repeated the words to himself. 

"Salt preserves : salt heals. Can He mean 
that we who are His followers are to help to heal 
the sin-sick and diseased? Can He mean that we 
are to help keep the souls of men from putrefy- 
ing?" And Eliab had a new conception of what 
it meant to be a follower of Jesus Christ. "The 
light of the world," thought he. • "To help dispel 
the darkness of iniquity. Oh ! what a glorious 
discipleship is this!" 

Bar-elah listened with eagerness to every 
word that the Christ spoke. His eyes were 



1 M M A A UEL. 



56 



fastened on the great teacher. Not once during 
the entire discourse were they removed, snch was 
his attention and interest. 

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father 
which is in heaven is perfect," said Jesns. 

"Yes," thought Eliab. "that is. the longing of 
my heart: to be perfect as this One the Christ, is 
— as the Father in heaven is." 

Many other wonderful teachings followed : 

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon 
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where 
thieves break through and steal : but lay up for 
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither 
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do 
not break through nor steal : For where your 
treasure is, there will your heart be also." 

And as he heard these words Bar-elah was 
forcibly reminded of the great loss his father had 
once suffered, when one night, unknown to all the 
family, a thief had broken into the little chest 
where all their earnings were stored, and made 
away with them all, leaving the family with noth- 
ing. The words of Christ impressed him forcibly. 

And many other wonderful words spake Jesus 
to the multitude gathered before Him, the result 



en I M MA NUEL. 

being they were all filled with astonishment at 
His doctrine and manner of teaching. 

As they came down from the mountain Eliab 
slipped his arm about Bar-elah, saying as he 
did so : 

"My dear Elah, have you ever heard such 
wonderful truths ? Do you not believe too, that 
this One is, indeed, the Christ of God ?" Bar-elah 
was silent. "It seemed to me Elah," continued 
Eliab, "that I never had the truth impressed on 
me more forcibly. Just think Elah, of such state- 
ments as we heard from His gracious lips : 'Seek 
ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteous- 
ness ;' — His righteousness remember, not our 
own — 'and all these things shall be added unto 
you.' And what a glorious promise that : 'Ask, 
and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall find ; 
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' 

"Then too, what He said about the strait gate, 
that leads to life and the wide gate that leads to 
destruction. Elah, I believe I have, through this 
Christ, entered the strait gate. Dear Elah, will 
you not believe on Him also?" — pleaded Eliab. 
Bar-elah was silent for a moment and then taking 
Eliab's hand in his own, he said : 






1 M MA NU E L. 



58 



"Eliab, I want more time to think about these 
things. But I'll tell you my boy, I never realized 
how ungodly I was until I compared my life with 
the pure, unspotted, holy life of Jesus. 1 ' 

Eliab's heart bounded with joy for he felt that 
Bar-eiah must certainly be coming to the light. 

As the multitude separated for the time be- 
ing, our young men suddenly found themselves 
face to face with Eliphaz, the young man of Ca- 
pernaum whom they had seen healed by Jesus. 

"Eliphaz," said both boys at the same time as 
they looked with astonishment into his attractive 
face, — "are you here, too?" 

"Yes," said Eliphaz after their more formal 
greetings were over, — "I was one of the number 
to follow this one called Jesus, from Capernaum. 
He says some wonderful things, does He not?" 

"But say, Bar-elah and Eliab, come abide 
with me to-night, at my cousin's home?" 

The three young men spent some time 

together discussing the teachings of the Christ 

ind were just settled for the night when a mes- 

snger came to the house to summons Eliphaz to 

the death-bed of a very intimate friend — a young 

lan in the city of Nain. 



eg IM MANUEL. 

"Well, Eliab and Bar-elah," said Eliphaz as 
he came into the room where the two boys had 
been asleep, "I shall have to leave yon. One 
whom I have long known and loved is sick unto 
death and he wants to see me. I fear that even 
now I am too late for the messenger left yester- 
day at the rising of the sun and was delayed on 
the way and too, he had trouble finding me. I 
fear my friend has already died. So I must needs 
make haste. The Lord be gracious to you until 
we meet again." 



CHAPTER VII. 



"HE day after, Jesus with a number of His 

^disciples and many people, Bar-elah and 
Eiiab among the number, went into the city of 
Nain. 

"Is not Nain the city to which Eliphaz went, 
Eliab?" asked Bar-elah, as they came in sight of 
the city. 

"Yes," replied Eliab. 

"What means that crowd of people coming 
through the gate of the city, Eliab?" asked Bar- 
elah as he saw a large number of people approach- 
ing. 

"Why, Elah, I believe it is one being taken 
to the burial," answered Eliab. "I wonder," said 
he turning quickly to his friend as a sudden 
thought seemed to come to him, "I wonder if it 
can be that the friend of Eliphaz is dead!" 



5 1 I M M A NUEL. 

The funeral procession was a long one. The 
two multitudes — the one following the body of 
the dead, and the one following Jesus — met. Bar- 
elah soon recognized Eliphaz among the chief 
mourners and from this he knew that the body 
was that of the young man whom Eliphaz had 
gone to visit. Eliab too, saw Eliphaz. 

The mother of the young man walked close 
beside the bod}* of her boy . Her grief was intense 
for not only had she lost her boy, but in losing 
him she had had her only support taken away, — 
for he was her only son and she was a widow. 
When Jesus saw her His heart was touched. It 
was filled with compassion. He approached her. 
Every eye was on Him. What would He say, 
what would He do ? Eliphaz was quick to recog- 
nize Him and his heart bounded with delight 
when he saw the face so full of compassion and 
love, the face of the One who had done so much 
for him. Could He help him now in his grief? 

When He came to the grief stricken mother, He 
simply said to her : u W T eep not," — and then turn- 
ing to the bier whereon the young man's body la}', 
He touched it and the bearers of it stood still and 
Jesus, speaking to the body — so cold in death, and 



1M MA NO E L. 5 2 

all bound in grave clothes — said: 

"Young man, I say unto thee, Arise." 
What, bidding the dead come to life? Yes, 
and immediately the young man sat up and spoke 
to the mother and to Eliphaz and these straight- 
way fell upon his neck and kissed him. 

The multitudes that beheld this might}' work 
were astonished beyond measure, fear came upon 
them and the}- began to glorify God, some saying 
that "a great prophet is risen up among us." 
Others that "God hath visited his people." Bar- 
elah and Eliab were as much amazed as an}' of 
the others, for, although, they had seen many 
mighty things done by Jesus, they had not for a 
moment thought of His having power to raise the 
dead. 

Bar-elah and Eliab had only a moment with 
Eliphaz and his resurrected friend. That moment 
though, spent in conversation with the one who 
even then had the grave-clothes about him, pro- 
duced an impression upon the heart of each of our 
boys, never to be effaced. As Eliphaz parted with 
the boys, he called to Eliab : 

."Come spend a few days with us in Nam." 
"We'll see," answered both boys at the same 



5-, I M M A NU K L. 

lime. 

"I rather think we had better go for a few 
days, Eliab," said Bar-elah after Eliphaz had left 
them. "We are out of food and are both in need 
of rest and I am somewhat foot-sore from walking 
so much. I'm not used to it, you know. Then 
too, I can't understand all this that we have seen 
and am somewhat curious to see this young man 
again." 

Eliab was desirous of following Jesus, but be- 
ing concerned deeply for Bar-elah and knowing 
well that his feet were troubling him greatly he 
read;ly agreed to Bar-elah 's proposition. An 
hour later the two were seated with Eliphaz, talk- 
ing over the wonderful events of the day. 

That night Bar-elah's feet troubled him so 
that he could not sleep at all. Twice Eliab arose 
and attended to them for him. Towards morning 
Bar-elah awoke Eliab sa3dng to him : 

"Eliab, I'm sick." And he was sick, too. 
Eliab found him suffering greatly. The next day 
was a very hard one for poor Bar-elah. Eliab did 
not leave his bed-side at all daring the day. The 
days that followed were anxious ones. It seemed 
at times that Bar-elah's sickness would become 



1 MM A A UEL. 



64 






very serious. 

One day when Bar-elah seemed to be suffer- 
ing the most, he drew Eliab to him, saying as he 
did so : 

"Oh ! Eliab I wish Jesus could come and put 
hand upon me and cure me as he did with the 
many whom we saw healed." 

"Yes Elah, my boy, I wish He was here," re- 
plied Eliab. This had been the longing of Eliab's 
heart from the first. 

After quite a siege, during which Eliab kept 
close to his friend and ministered to him con- 
stantly, Bar-elah began to mend and was soon 
able to be out again. 

During all of this time Jesus and His disciples 
had been very bus}'. After leaving Nain He went 
with the twelve through all the cities and villages 
of Galilee, preaching everywhere the gospel of the 
kingdom. And He did many wonderful things. 
One day one possessed of a devil, who was also 
dumb and blind, was brought to Him and He cast 
out the devil and healed the man of his blindness 
and dumbness. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

/LIAB," said Bar-elah one day after he was 
well again and the two boys were alone for a 
moment, "I think we had better start out to-mor- 
row to find Jesus of Nazareth. It has been quite 
a long time since we have seen him. I am feeling 
real strong again and I think we had better go, 
Eliphaz just told me that he heard that he was in 
the neighborhood of the Sea of Galilee — not far 
from Capernaum. Shall we go, Eliab?" 

"Alright, Elah, I'm ready, if you feel well 
enough," was Eliab's response. And so the boys 
decided to start on the second day and travel 
slowly until they should again be with Jesus. 

While they were on their journey Jesus was 
discoursing to the multitudes, in parables. He 
spoke to them a parable concerning a barren-fig 
tree to teach men that they ought to bear fruit. 
Then too He spoke the parable of the sower. He 
told them how the sower went forth to sow and in 



1 M M A NU E L. 55 

his sowing some of the seed "fell by the way side ; 
some fell upon a rock ; some fell among thorns; 
other fell on good ground." 

His disciples asked Him to explain this 
parable to them and He did so, telling them that 
this parable taught the various ways in which 
men hear and receive the word. 

Said He : "The seed is the word of God. 

"Those by the way side are they that hear ; 
then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word 
out of their hearts, lest they should believe and 
be saved. 

"They on the rock are they, which, when they 
hear, receive the word with joy ; and these have 
no root, which for a while believe, and in time of 
temptation fall away. 

"And that which fell among thorns are they, 
which, when they have heard, go forth, and are 
choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this 
life, and bring no fruit to perfection. 

"But that on the good ground are they, which 
in an honest and good heart, having heard the 
word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." 

Other parables followed. One of the tares. 
Another teaching men that the kingdom of heaven 



6 7 



I M MA -\ 



was like a mustard seed ; small in its beginnii 
but increasing and becoming a refuge for the 
weary. One teaching that the kingdom was like 
leaven ; silent yet sure and powerful in its work- 
ings. 

Seeing the great throng of people about Him, 
Jesus quietly withdrew to the other side of the 
lake but on the w r ay a tempest was encountered. 
Jesus, weary of body, had fallen asleep in the 
boat. The storm grew more fierce until it seemed 
to the disciples who were in the boat, that they 
must perish. The boat filled with water. The}' 
awoke Jesus and rising in their midst He quietty 
said to the boisterous sea : 

"Peace, be still," and immediately the storm 
ceased and all was quiet. Then were those in the 
boat filled with amazement because of His mighty 
power, because even the wind and waves obeyed 
Him. 

Upon reaching the other side two possessed 
with demons met Him and He caused the evil 
spirits to come out of them and to pass into a herd 
of swine near at hand and these, numbering about 
two thousand, in their madness, straightway 
rushed headlong into the sea and were destroyed. 



IMMAAUEL. 53 

Great fear came upon the people of that region 
when they heard what Jesus had done and they 
besought Him to leave the country. 

Jesus returned to Capernaum and was gladly 
received by the people for they had been looking 
anxiously for His return. 

While there Jairus, one of the rulers of the 
Synagogue, and whose daughter was sick unto 
death, came to Jesus and besought Him to go to 
his house and lay His hand upon her that she 
might not die. Jesus went but before the}'- 
reached the house word was brought to Jairus 
that his daughter was dead. Jesus did not stop, 
however. He went to the house and going to 
where the body lay He took the maid by the hand 
and immediately she arose. 

While on the way to the house of Jairus 
another mighty work was wrought. The people 
were thronging about Jesus as He walked with 
His disciples and Jairus. In the crowd was a 
woman who for twelve years had been suffering 
with an issue of blood. She had spent all she 
had upon physicians but had obtained no relief 
whatever. She was in fact worse than ever. She 
had heard of Jesus and His many mighty cures. 



6 9 



l M M A N.UEL. 



She had great faith in Him and was anxious to 
have Him cure her. As she pushed her way 
• through the crowd she said to herself: 

"If I may but touch his garment, I shall be 
whole." Gradually she came nearer to the blessed 
Jesns and finally by reaching forth her hand she 
was able to touch the hem of his garment. She 
did so and immediately she was cured. Jesus 
turning said to her : 

"Daughter, be of good comfort : thy faith hath 
made thee whole ; go in peace." 

As Jesus went from the home of Jairus He 
was met by two blind men who besought Him to 
have mercy on them. He simply touched their 
eyes and immediately the}- had their sight re- 
stored to them. 

After this He went forth into all the cities 
and villages, preaching the gospel and healing the 
sick, and many believed on Him. 

During this time Bar-elah and Eliab had 
been slowly travelling over the road from Naiii to 
Capernaum. They went only a short distance 
each day as Bar-elah found he was not as strong 
as he had thought himself to be. The}* visited in 
the towns through which the}* passed. 



1MMANUEL. ^ y G 

One evening as they were going along the 
street of the little village where they were to 
spend the night, they met a young man whom 
the}- recognized as an acquaintance from Caper- 
naum. After their formal greetings Bar-elan 
said : 

"Did you hear anything while at home of the 
whereabouts of Jesus of Nazareth ?" 

"Yes, he is now not far from Capernaum," 
answered the young man and then he told them 
of all the mighty works of Jesus in Galilee, to 
which we have referred. 

"I myself saw man}' of these things," said the 
young man. "Demons were cast out ; the sick 
were healed; the blind had their eyes opened; the 
dumb spoke." 

That night the boys stayed at the home of an 
old friend of Bar-elah's father. After the}' had 
retired they lay for sometime, talking about the 
news they had heard concerning Jesus. 

"Oh Elah, I'm so anxious to see that face 
again and be with Him again," said Eliab. 

"So am I, Eliab," was the response. 

During the next few days they made excel- 
lent progress and reached Capernaum one day 



7 j [MM A NU E L. 

just at the setting of the sun. They went at once 
to the home of the uncle where they had stayed 
before. Their .first inquiry was as to where Jesus 
could be found. 

"He is some place along the coast of the sea," 
said the uncle. "I think that if you take a boat 
and cross the sea in the morning you will find 
him there." 

Next morning at the dawn of day the two 
boys were up and on their way. They found 
many people about and upon inquiry found that 
they were going along the shore around to the 
place where Jesus was. It was some distance and 
our boys had to go slowly on Bar-elah's account, 
and they did not get around the northern end of 
the sea until late in the day. Suddenly the}- 
came in sight of a very great multitude of people. 

"Ah," said Eliab, "I guess we have found 
Him, Elah." And they had for Jesus sat in the 
midst of the multitude. The day was drawing to 
a close. Just as the boys arrived Jesus had told 
His disciples to make the multitude sit down in 
bands of fifty, upon the grass, and the disciples 
went forth at once into the multitude to carry out 
the Lord's command. 



1MMAAUEL. 72 

"What do you suppose this can mean Elah," 
asked Eliab. 

"I'm sure I can't tell you, Eliab. I wish we 
had been a little sooner ; but we'll soon see." 

When the multitude, (which numbered about 
five thousand men besides the women and child- 
ren), was seated, every eye was again fastened 
upon Jesus. A small basket was handed to Him. 
It contained five loaves of bread and two small 
fishes. 

u Can it be Eliab, that He is going to feed 
this great multitude ?" whispered Bar-elah as he 
leaned over to Eliab. "The day is far spent, this 
is a desert place and the people are undoubtedl}' 
very hungry and weary, but where can He get 
enough for this great crowd?" 

But see, what is it the Christ does ? Every 
eye is upon Him. Everything is perfectly silent. 
Taking the five barley loaves in His hand, and 
the two small fishes, Fie lifted His eyes to heaven 
and blessed the food and then began to break the 
loaves and fishes and as He did so the fragments 
multiplied as they passed through His divine 
hands until there was before Him a great heap of 
fragments both of bread and fish. He then gave 



-* I M MA NUEL. 

these to His disciples commanding them to dis- 
tribute to the multitude. They did so and the 
entire multitude ate and was satisfied. Bar-elah 
and Eliab both ate of the bread and fish and as 
they did so looked at one another in astonishment. 

"What wonderful thing will He do next 
Elah?" asked Eliab in his amazement. 

Bar-elah only shook his head. He was as 
much astonished as was Eliab. After the multi- 
tude had been fully satisfied, it was seen that a 
large pile of fragments remained. 

"Gather up the fragments that remain," com- 
manded Jesus of his disciples, "that nothing be 
lost," and they filled twelve baskets with the frag- 
ments that remained. 

"How strange," thought Bar-elah," that One 
w T ho can produce bread at his will, would bother 
to save the fragments." But this was another 
evidence of His greatness, for He wastes nothing. 

Jesus directed His disciples to take a, boat 
and cross the sea to Bethsaida while He dismissed 
the multitude. Slowiy the throng dispersed and 
Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to pray. Bar- 
elah and Eliab went back to Capernaum to spend 
a few days. Before the disciples had reached the 



JMMANUEL. 7, 

other side, they saw a new evidence of His power. 
The little boat in which the disciples were, was 
tossed about furiously by the wind that had 
arisen. Suddenly they saw one approaching them, 
walking upon the water. They were troubled, 
thinking it to be a spirit, but all fears subsided 
when they heard the familiar voice of Jesus say- 
ing to them : 

"It is I ; be not afraid." 

In Gennesaret He healed many sick, and 
preached the gospel to the multitudes that 
thronged about Him. 

The next day, the multitude that had been 
fed, took shipping to Capernaum. They found 
Jesus there in the Synagogue and began at once 
to question Him. Our two young men were near 
at hand and heard all that was said. 

u Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, 
but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were 
filled," said Jesus to the multitude. "Labor not 
for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat 
which endureth unto everlasting life, which the 
Son of man shall give unto you." 

Other very blessed and gracious words fell 
from his lips. Said he ; 



jc TM MA NUEL. 

"My Father givcth you the true bread from 
heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh 
down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 
# ^ I am the bread of life. # ih This is the 
bread which cometh down from heaven, that a 
man may eat thereof, and not die." 

These words .and the many others He spoke, 
astonished the multitude. They could not under- 
stand how they could eat of the bread of which 
He spoke. Eliab though felt that he could under- 
stand the Christ, at least to some extent, for he 
realized that his own soul had been satisfied by 
this One who called Himself "the bread of life." 



CHAPTER IX. 



'HE time for the Feast of Tabernacles drew 
near. Again ever} 7 road leading to Jerusa- 
lem was crowded with pilgrims. Jesus and His 
disciples were among those who went up to the 
Feast. Bar-elah and Eliab also. 

Six months had passed since the discourse at 
Capernaum, when Jesus announced Himself as 
the Bread of Life. During that time He 
with His disciples, and followed by a great mul- 
titude of people, Bar-elah and Eliab being in the 
throng, — He with these had journeyed through 
the region about Tyre and Sidon, Caesarea Philip- 
pi, through Galilee and Samaria. 

Near Tyre and Sidon He had healed the 
daughter of a Syrophcenician woman. This one 
had been tormented with a devil. The mother 
had come to Jesus for help, beseeching Him to 
heal her daughter. When Jesus saw her faith He 
said unto her: u O woman, great is thy faith; be 



-~ 1 M M A NUEL. 

it unto thee even as thou wilt," and forthwith her 
daughter was healed. 

Near the Sea of Galilee, Jesus went up into a 
mountain. Many who were sick were brought 
unto Him and He healed them. The multitude 
numbered four thousand men besides women and 
children. These Jesus fed as He had previously 
fed the five thousand, producing food miraculously 
for them. 

At Bethsaida Jesus healed one who had been 
blind. 

While in the region of C?esarea Philippi, Jesus 
in speaking to His disciples told them of His ap- 
proaching death and resurrection. He told them 
He must needs go up to Jerasulem and there suffer 
many things and be put to death — but after that 
He would rise again. These are the words He 
had used : 

u The Sou of man must suffer man}' things, 
and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and 
scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third da} 7 ." 

Some eight days after this Jesus took some of 

His disciples up into a mountain, to pray. While 

praying He was transfigured before them, His 

ountenance shone and His raiment was changed 



J MM A NU E L. 



78 



until it too, seemed to shine. While thus trans- 
figured two, having the appearance of Moses and 
Elias, talked with Him. 

While at Capernaum Jesus miraculously pro- 
vided the tribute money needed by Himself and 
Peter. He directed Peter to go to the sea and 
there he was to take the first fish caught and in its 
mouth would be found the money. Peter did as 
commanded and found all as Jesus had said. 

From Capernaum Jesus sent out sevent}' dis- 
ciples to do work for Him. These He first fully 
instructed as to what they should do and say. To 
them He gave the power to heal the sick and to 
cast out devils. 

After these things He departed from Galilee 
to go up to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of 
Tabernacles. As He went through Samaria, 
when He came to a certain village, ten lepers came 
to him. They did not come near to Him as did 
some of the others whom He cleansed, but stood 
at a distance and cried with a loud voice : "Jesus, 
Master, have mercy on us." One of the men was 
a Samaritan, would Jesus cleanse him, too? He 
was one of those who had cried out for menry. 
Oh ! what a pitiful sight they were as the}* stood 



y 9 TM MA NUEL. 

afar off, afraid to come near lest they might defile 
the Christ! Afraid to approach any man, con- 
stantly crying out, "Unclean, unclean," as they 
went about, to warn the people that they might 
not come near them. This is the question Bar- 
elah and Eliab were asking themselves. Listen ; 
it is Jesus who speaks: 

"Go show yourselves unto the priests." 
And they went and were cleansed. But one of 
them returns. He is the Samaritan. What is it 
he wants? He is heard to speak — he is giving 
glory to God for his being healed. He approaches 
Jesus, falls prostrate at His feet, pouring forth his 
thanks as he does so. "Were there not ten 
cleansed?" Asked Jesus. "But where are the 
nine ? There are not found that returned to give 
glory to God, save this stranger," — he being a 
Samatitan, "Arise, go thy way ; thy faith hath 
made thee whole." 

Those who saw it marvelled. Jesus sought 
to go privately to Jerusalem and but a small 
number were now with Him. Bar-elah and Eliab 
had both managed to keep near Him and were, an 
fact, able at times to come closer to Him for the 
people did not throng Him as before. The nearer 



1MMAAUEL. g Q 

they .came the greater the influences they felt, 
from His divine, His sacred person. 

They draw nigh to Jerusalem. In the dis- 
tance they could see the walls of the Holy City. 

"We shall soon be there Elah," said Eliab. 

u Oh ! Eliab, I feel as though I cannot take 
another step! I am feeling so sick again and my 
feet are so sore." And poor Bar-elah did look 
about worn out. Eliab had noticed this in his 
friend but thought it was from the excitement 
and that when they reached Jerusalem he would 
be alright. 

"I must stop here Eliab and lie down. Oh ! 
I'm so sick," and Bar-elah fell in a faint. Eliab 
soon brought him to. He spread his cloak out for 
him and laid him on it. 

"Shall I call Jesus, Elah?" asked Eliab, 

"Yes," gasped Bar-elah. When the Christ 
came, seeing Eliab's faith, He put forth His hand 
and touched Bar-elah and immediately he was 
made well and arose. 

"Oh ! that that sacred touch would awaken a 
response in my boy's heart," said Eliab within 
himself. Bar-elah did look thoughtful. 

"Oh ! Eliab, I'm so full of iniquity, it hardly 



gj I M M A NUEL. 

seems right to have allowed the Christ to have put 
his holy hand upon me for fear of his becoming 
defiled." 

"Let Him cleanse your soul my boy. Ask 
Him to speak the word of forgiveness," said Eliab. 
Bar-elali said nothing. 



Jerusalem looked bright and full of life. The 
Cit}~ was crowded. Long before the boys "had 
reached the city gate they began to meet ac- 
quaintances among the crowds the}' met. In 
some wa}^ they lost track of Jesus. 

The streets of the City were lined with booths 
made of the branches of trees. In the temple 
court these booths were to be seen. On the roofs 
of the houses, also. In these the people lived 
during the feast. This festival was kept to com- 
memorate the fort}' years wanderings of their fore- 
fathers in the wilderness before entering into 
Canaan. It was also kept as a season of thanks- 
giving for the ingathering of the harvest. 

The City presented a very beautiful appear- 
ance with its many booths. Bar-elah and Eliab 
found the people happy and gay all of them bus} 7 



1MMANUEL. g 2 

getting ready for the first day of the feast which 
was a Sabbath to the Lord. The boys went at 
once to the home where they had, with their 
families, celebrated the Passover. There they 
found both families again enjoying the hospitality 
of Eliab's uncle. 

That evening the two boys were kept busy 
relating their wonderful experiences while follow- 
ing Jesus from place to place. Eliab's mother 
knew before of her boy's faith in this One and his 
joy in believing and now that he was with her she 
could see that he had, indeed, experienced rich 
things. 

"And you really believe, Eliab, that this 
One is the long-looked-for Messiah of the Jews ?" 
she asked. 

"I know it, mother." 



CHAPTER X. 






IN Jerusalem the people sought for Jesus and 

& found Him in the temple, where He taught 

them. They were all astonished at His teaching 

and learning. His doctrines were so different 

from many of theirs. 

Evidently there was some plot to put Jesus to 
death, for Bar-elah was astonished be3^ond 
measure by overhearing one say to another: 
"Is not this he, whom they seek to kill?" 
"What," said Bar-elah when he had com- 
municated this to Eliab, "seeking to kill the one 
who has healed me? Not if I can prevent it." 
Both boys felt almost terrified for the time, for 
even then the chief priests and the Pharisees 
sought to take Him. 



The close of the feast drew nigh. All were 
looking forward to the last day, which was the 



IMMAAUEL. g, 

great day of all. Everybody seemed to have had 
a blessed time but looked to this great day as be- 
ing the best. 

The day dawned. Our two young men were 
out early. The streets of the Holy City were alive 
with people. Bar-elah and Eliab were going 
towards the temple. It was a warm day and the 
multitudes were very thirsty. Suddenly a voice 
was heard above the noise jnade b}^ the crowd, 
Bar-elah heard it and these are the words he 
heard: 

"If any man thirst, let him come unto me 
and drink." 

"Oh," said Bar-elah to Eliab, "only some one 
trying to call attention to his wares" — and yet 
that thought did not stay with him long .when he 
remembered the day, it being a sacred day, and 
also the place. The next words he heard told 
him he was mistaken : 

"Be that believeth on me, as the Scripture 
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of liv- 
ing water." 

"What strange doctrine is this Elah ?" asked 
Eliab as the two boys gently pushed their way 
through the crowd with the hope of being able to 



S- IM MA NUEL. 

see the one whose voice they had heard. 

"Why Eliab," said Bar-elah when he caught 
sight of the face — "it is Jesus." 



The feast was over. Slowly the crowds dis- 
persed as the people wended their ways homeward. 

The next da}', in the temple, one who had 
been a great sinner, was brought to Jesus. This 
one was brought by the Scribes and Pharisees, for 
the}' had hoped to lay a snare for the Christ, that 
they might catch Him and put Him to death. 
Jesus knew their hearts and thoughts. The 
Pharisees and Scribes questioned Him, tempting 
Him. Looking upon them and then upon the 
woman He said: 

"He that is without sin among you, let him 
first cast a stone at her," for they had asked Him 
if she ought be stoned to death because of her 
sin. They answered Him not a word. Nor did 
any cast a stone, but quietly, one by one they went 
out, realizing that a beam was in their own eyes 
as well as the woman's. Their consciences con- 
victed them. When they had all gone out Jesus 
forgave the woman of her great sin and bid her 



< 



1 M MANUEL. 35 

"go, and sin no more." When the people came 
together about Him again He said to them : 

"I am the light of the world : he that followeth 
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the 
light of life. 

u Ye are from beneath ; I am from above : ye 
are of this world; I am not of this world. I said 
therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins ; 
for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in 
your sins." 

And many other things did He speak unto 
them as He taught in the temple, and many of 
the Jews believed on Him because of these sayings. 

To those who believed He said : 

"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my 
disciples indeed ; and ye shall know the truth, and 
the truth shall make you free." 

And to those Jews who sought to destroy 
Him, He said: 

"But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath 
told you the truth, which I have heard of God." 

*Bar-elah and Eliab looked at one another in 
wonder. 

"Surely," said Eliab, "He must know of all 
their plans." 



87 



IM MA NUEL. 



"If a man keep 1113- saying," continued Jesus, 
u he shall never see death." 

Upon hearing this the Jews charged Him 
with having a devil, because, said they, Abraham 
and the prophets all saw death. These Jews be- 
came indignant and full of wrath and took up 
stones to hurl at Him. Bar-elah quickly grasped 
the arm of one who stood next him, in whose hand 
was a stone ready to be thrown. 

"He speaks the truth." said Bar-elah. 

Quietly Jesus withdrew Himself from the 
temple, passing through the midst of the excited 
Jews. 

A little later Jesus spoke the parable of the 
good Samaritan, telling how a certain man fell 
among thieves who used him shamefully and then 
left him, torn and bleeding and wounded, by the 
wayside. A priest happened by but would not 
help the suffering one. Then a Levite came 
along, and he too, neglected to aid the wounded 
man; but finally a poor, despised, hated Samaritan 
came along and his heart was filled with pit} r and 
he straightway dressed his wounds and put him 
upon his beast and cared for him. Jesus spoke 
this parable to teach a certain lawyer who had 



1MMAAUEL. gg 

temptingly asked Him certain questions, who his 
neighbor was for this one had said to Jesus : 

"And who is my neighbor ?" 

After this Jesus went to Bethany where He 
abode a short time. That night Bar-elah and 
Eliab remained in Jerusalem still enjoying the 
hospitality of the uncle. 

"Elah," said Eliab after they had finished the 
evening meal, "suppose we abide here a few days. 
I desire to learn something more if I can about the 
plot these priests and scribes have in mind, where- 
by they hope to destroy Jesus." 

"Alright, Eliab," said Bar-elah. 

On the morning they set out to learn what 
they could. As the}' walked along the street 
they saw quite a crowd upon one of the corners. 
They recognized several as being scribes and 
Pharisees. They drew near and found Xhey were 
discussing the Christ. 

"This man makes himself equal with God. 
He blasphemes. He is worthy of death," said 
one excited scribe. 

"He is turning the heads of the people," said 
another. 

"His doctrine is dangerous to our law," said 



8 9 



I M M A NUEL. 



a self-righteous, pompous looking old Pharisee. 

And these and the other accusations brought, 
they considered as sufficient to warrant His being 
put to death. 

Bar-elah and Eliab were silent. They knew 
not whether to speak or keep silence. As they 
left the crowd, Bar-elah spoke : 

u Oh ! Eliab, what can we do ! It seems an 
outrage that these hard-hearted Jews should be 
plotting against this One who seems so pure and 
who has done such wondrous things. What can 
we do ?" 

"I'm sure I don't know, Elah. But see how 
He passed through the midst of them when they 
sought to stone Him and how He has escaped out 
of their hands. Perhaps it would be so when they 
seek to kill Him, Elah." 







CHAPTER XI. 



■^JESUS had returned to Jerusalem. The 
^)^ seventy whom He had sent out two by two 
had returned. One who had been born blind had 
been healed so that he saw as perfectly as any 
one. Jesus had said in answer to a question from 
His disciples ; asked before He had healed the 
man : 

"Neither hath this man sinned, nor his par- 
ents ; but that the works of God should be made 
manifest in him." 

When Jesus had made an ointment of clay 
and spittle and put it upon his eyes, He bade the 
man go wash in Siloam. He did as commanded 
and at once could see. This was done on the 
Sabbath and the Pharisees thought they had . 
another crime to charge against Jesus. 

After this, in His discourse, Jesus said : 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that 
entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but 



Q! I M M A NUEL. 

climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief 
and a robber. But he that entereth in by the 
door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the 
porter openeth ; and the sheep hear his voice ; and 
he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth 
them out. And when he putteth forth his own 
sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow 
him : for they know his voice. And a stranger 
will they not follow, but will flee from him ; for 
they know not the voice of strangers." 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door 
of the sheep. All that ever came before me are 
thieves and robbers : but the sheep did not hear 
them. I am the door: by me if an} r man enter in, 
he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and 
find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to 
steal, and to kill, and destroy : I am come that 
they might have life, and that they might have it 
more abundantly. I am the good shepherd ; the 
good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." 

Bar-elah and Eliab, heard these words. Eliab 
understood them but Bar-elah did not. As they 
went forth from the presence of Jesus, the}- saw 
Eliphaz who had come from Capernaum to be 
present at Jerusalem at the feast of dedication. 



1 M M A NUE L. q 2 

"O, Eliphaz," called Bar-elah when he and 
Eliab got within speaking distance. Eliphaz 
knew the voice and turned. His face was radiant. 
To Bar-elah it was more attractive than ever. 
His countenance spoke of joy within. 

"I've entered through the door into the fold, 
friend Eliab," were the first words Eliphaz spoke. 

"Give God the glory," was Eliab's response. 
Bar-elah silently grasped the hand of Eliphaz. 
"You must come and abide with us Eliphaz," said 
Eliab. He gladly went with them. Upon the 
house-top that night they had a long and earnest 
talk — Eliab and Eliphaz telling of the wondrous 
joy that they had found. Bar-elah was deeply 
impressed with what he heard from the boys and 
found himself longing for the same experiences of 
joy and peace, they seemed to have. 

The Feast of Dedication was a time of great 
rejoicing, commemorating the re-dedication of the 
sacred temple, after its terrible defilement by the 
wicked Antiochus Epiphanes. 

Jesus and His disciples attended the festival. 
One day the Jews after asking Him questions, 
took up stones ready to stone Him to death ; but 
He escaped from them and went to Bethany, be- 



q^ 1 M M A NU E L. 

3'ond Jordan, where He abode. 

Bar-elah, Eliab and Eliphaz heard that He was 
there and forthwith, they too, went to Bethany. 

In this town one named Lazarus lay sick. 
This one was loved by Jesus. The sisters of this 
man, Mary and Martha, sent to Jesus, saying : 

"Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." 

They thought He would straightway come 
and heal their brother but He abode where He 
was two days, and then returned to Judaea. After 
this He said to His disciples : 

"Our friend Lazarus sleepeth ; but I go, that 
I may awake him out of sleep." 

So Jesus went, and His disciples with Him. 
Bar-elah, Eliab and Eliphaz were still in Bethany 
having remained there when Jesus went into 
Judaea. As Jesus and His disciples drew nigh 
unto Bethany Martha the sister of Lazarus went 
forth to meet Him. When she met Him she said : 

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother 
had not died. But I know, that even now, what- 
soever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." 

Jesus answered her saying: 

u Thy brother shall rise again." 

" I know that he shall rise again," said Mar- 



1M MANUEL. g 4 

tha, "in the resurrection at trie last day." 

" I, " answered Jesus, "am the resurrection 
and the life : he that believeth in me, though he 
were dead, yet shall he live ; and whosoever 
liveth and believeth in me shall never die." 

Soon after Mary heard from Martha, who had 
returned to the house, that Jesus was coming and 
so she went out to meet Him. Many Jews also 
followed thinking she was going to the tomb to 
weep. Bar-elah, Eiiab and Eliphaz met the little 
company and joined them, not knowing what it 
all meant. Soon the boys saw Jesus approaching 
and their hearts bounded with delight. 

"I'm glad," said Eliab, "that this poor woman 
is going to Jesus with her sorrow." 

Mary, when she met Jesus, fell at His feet, 
weeping and saying as Martha had before : 

"Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother 
had not died." 

The whole company went to the cave in 
which the body of Lazarus had lain for four days. 

Jesus said : 

"Take ye away the stone," and when they 
had done so, Jesus cried aloud saying : 

"Lazarus, come forth," and straightway he 



g^ /MM A NUEL. 

came forth. 

"Eliphaz," said Bar-elah who with his two 
companions had witnessed it all, u this is more 
wonderful than the raising of your friend, for this 
one had been dead four days. Surely this Jesus 
must be of God. No man could do such wonderful 
things if God were not with him." 

How the hearts of these three young men 
would have ached had they known that some Jews, 
who witnessed this miracle, at once went to the 
Pharisees and told them all about it, and that 
these Pharisees and the chief priests at once coun- 
seled together as to how they might put Jesus to 
death ! 

Bar-elah and Eliab remained in Bethany 
some days and later spent some time in their own 
village, while Jesus and His disciples went into 
Ephraim and into Persea. 

Great multitudes followed the Christ into the 
country beyond Jordan. While there in Peraea 
one Sabbath He healed a woman who for eighteen 
years had suffered greatly and was bent together 
so that she could not stand upright. 

Again Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem. 
And as He went He taught the people. Many 



1 M M A A UEL. 



9 6 






were tlie parables He uttered. There was the 
one of the lost sheep, speaking of the efforts made 
to reclaim any that may be lost, and the joy when 
the lost is found, and ending with these words: 

"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in 
heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than 
over ninety and nine just persons, which need no 
repentance." 

Then there was the parable of the lost pieces 
of silver, teaching the same truth. Then He 
spoke the parable of the prodigal son, telling 
how a young man left his father's house, and went 
into a distant country where he squandered what 
he had and then in his poverty and need became 
a swine-herd, a task most degrading to a Jew. 
The poor young man was in great need and sought 
to satisfy his hunger on the husks thrown out for 
the swine. Finally he thought on his ways, re- 
pented of his sin and set his face towards his 
father's house. There he was received with a 
royal welcome. This parable was to teach men 
the course of the sinner and the welcome and for- 
giveness awaiting him in the Father's house. 

There was the parable of the unjust steward, 
followed by the words: 






q~ IM MA NUEL. 

"No servant can serve two masters : for either 
he will hate the one, and love the other; or else 
he will hold to the one, and despise the other. 
Ye cannot serve God and mammon." 

Then He spake the parable of the rich man 
and Lazarus, telling of the suffering in hell of the 
one who was sinful, and the joy and felicity of the 
other among the redeemed. Many other teach- 
ings followed. Large numbers of children were 
brought to Him and upon these He put His 
hands and blessed them. It was a beautiful sight 
to behold. There sat the Great Teacher, sur- 
rounded by those who had brought the children 
to Him. One by one He would take these pre- 
cious little ones up into His arms and breathe a 
blessing upon them. 

u How tender and loving," said Eliab to Bar- 
eliah, as they saw the Christ do this. 

As Jesus and His disciples, Bar-elah and 
Eliab, among them, went forth, they saw one ap- 
proaching in the distance. Fie seemed to be in 
very great haste as he was running. As he drew 
near it was seen that he was a young man, and a 
ruler. When he reached Jesus he threw himself 
on the ground before Him, beseeching Him to tell 



1 M MANUEL. o3 

him what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus 
told him to keep the commandments. These, he 
said, he had kept from his youth up, but realizing 
that this was not sufficient and that there was 
more for him to do he asked Jesus this question, 
"what lack I yet?" and Jesus seeing the lack and 
that the young man, who was rich, was to some 
extent selfish, He said to him: 

"Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the 
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven : 
and come and follow me." 

But the young man turned away grieved, 
prefering to keep his great riches for his own use, 
than do as Jesus directed and thus obtain eternal 
life. 

Jesus continued to speak to the people in 
parables. On the way up to Jerusalem He again 
foretold His death and resurrection, to His twelve 
disciples, saying to them: 

"Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son 
of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests 
and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him 
to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to 
mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the 
third da}^ he shall rise again." 



99 



I M M A NU E L. 



Bar-elah had had word from his father which 
made it necessary for him to go to his home at 
once. He did so, accompanied by Eliab. The 
business matter was soon settled. 

"Elah, I just heard on the street that Jesus 
is on His way to Jerusalem and if we hurry we 
will be in time to meet Him in Jericho," said 
Eliab to his friend. 

" Alright, Eliab, let us haste to Jericho." 

They at once set out and reached the city 
just as Jesus and His disciples, followed by a 
very great multitude, were leaving. The 
two young men went with them. As they left the 
city they saw old blind Bartimseus sitting by the 
wayside begging. This one when he heard that 
Jesus was passing cried out to Him for mercy and 
the Christ opened his eyes. 

While in Jericho, as Jesus and the multitude 
that pressed about Him, were passing along the 
street of the city, Jesus looked up into a syca- 
more tree growing along side the road and there 
saw one named Zacchseus, a rich man, one of the 
chief publicans, who, because of his smallness of 
stature, had climbed into the tree that he might 
see Jesus. As Jesus passed He called to Zac- 



1 M M A A UEL. IOO 

chseus, saying that He desired to abide at His 
house. Zacchaeus received his divine guest gladly, 
and received salvation. 

Before going to Jerusalem. Jesus spent a little 
time in the home of Lazarus. Bar-elah and Eiiab 
went on to Jerusalem. There the people were 
busy preparing for the passover, for there were 
but six days remaining before the feast. 

Just as Eliab had finished his evening meal, 
Bar-elah came into the room all excitement. 

"Eliab, 1 ' said he, "come up stairs I want to 
tell you something." 

They went up to the house-top. Eliab won- 
dered- what was troubling his companion. 

"Could you believe it Eliab," said Bar-elah 
as soon as they were alone, "those Pharisees and 
chief priests are planning to take Jesus as soon as 
he enters the city, and put him to death ! I just 
discovered the plot. It is quite well known among 
the scribes and I overheard them counselling to- 
gether. They didn't know I was around. What 
can we do Eliab?" 

"My dear Elah, I've no idea what to do," 
said Eliab. 

"He ought not to die, Eliab," was Bar-elah's 
response. 



CHAPTER XII. 

^JliliPON the first day of the week, Bar-elah and 
^6v Eliab arose early and, after the morning 
meal, went to the temple. The}- remained there 
but a short time and then walked about the city 
some. As they slowly walked along they were 
met by quite a multitude of people, some of them 
carrying branches of palms. The throng was 
hastening towards the gate of the City. 

"What can this mean, Elah ?" asked Eliab. 

"I'm sure I can't imagine Eliab, let us follow 
them and see," answered Bar-elah. 

And so the two young men joined the throng. 
Bar-elah walked alongside of a young man of his 
own age. 

"Where is this multitude going and what 
mean the palm branches?" asked Bar-elah of 
this one. 

"We are going forth from the City to meet 
Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God," was the 



1 M M A NUEL. I02 

young man's reply. "He is approaching the City. 
We have heard His wonderful teachings and seen 
His mighty works, and believe Him to be the 
Messias." 

Bar-elah looked at Eliab. The latter said: 

"Yes, and I too, believe in Him." 

The multitude went forth from the Gity. In 
a short time a multitude was seen approaching 
them. In the lead was one sitting upon the colt 
of an ass. When they drew nearer Eliab was 
quick to recognize the One who rode, as Jesus the 
Christ. 

"There He is Elah, riding upon the ass," 
said Eliab. Elah looked. 

"Yes, Eliab, that is he." The multitudes met. 
There was great rejoicing. The whole company, 
waving the branches of palms, began to praise 
and to glorify God, saying : 

"Hosanna to the son of David : Blessed is 
he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna 
in the highest." 

Many spread their garments before the Christ 
that He might ride over them. Others of the 
great multitude scattered palm branches in the 
way. One multitude went before Him and one 



io3 



1 M MA NUEL. 



behind Him. They followed Him into the city 
waving their palm branches and singing their 
hosannas to God. There was great rejoicing. 
Our two young men mingled their voices with the 
rest. Eliab sang with all his heart and he noticed 
that his Elah sang as heartily as any. Before 
they entered the City, however, when they came 
near it, Jesus wept over it because of the unbelief 
of the people and that which would come upon the 
City in time to come. 

As the demonstrative multitude entered the 
Holy City, the people of the City were filled 
with wonder and many asked: 

"Who is this?" 

Those in the multitude answered, saying: 

"This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of 
Galilee." 

All this only vexed the unbelieving Phari- 
sees the more. They were filled with wrath, 
saying among themselves : 

"Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, 
the world is gone after him." They were the 
more determined to kill Him. That night He 
went, with the twelve, to Bethany and abode there. 
On the morrow He returned to Jerusalem and 



1MMAAUEL. I0 . 

went at once to the temple. There He fonnd those 
that bought and sold and thus made the place an 
house of merchandise. These He cast out, saying 
as He did so : 

"It is written, My house shall be called the 
house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of 
thieves." 

Many who were sick and lame and blind came 
to Him in the temple and He healed them all. 
This was on the second day of the week. Towards 
even Jesus and the twelve went again to Bethany. 

The next morning, Bar-elah and Eliab, be- 
fore they arose, began to discuss their plans for 
the day. 

"I think Elah," said Eliab, "that we had bet- 
ter watch at the City gate for Jesus, when He 
shall return from Bethany, and then keep close 
to Him all the day. He probabty will spend 
much time in the temple." 

"That would be a good plan Eliab," said Bar- 
elah. 

"My dear Elah," said Eliab after a little, as 
he drew his friend to him, "will you not accept 
Jesus as your own Lord and Master that you too, 
may be His ?" 



IO c IM MA NUEL. 

"Eliab," said Bar-elah in response as he 
slipped his arm about the one the power and in- 
fluences of whose love he had long felt, and whom 
he acknowledged to be his best friend, "I know 
I am not what I ought to be, but, Eliab, I mean 
from this time forth to leave off some of my bad 
habits. You know what they are. I mean to 
live a different life from what I heretofore have 
lived. Truly, Eliab, since you and I have been 
following this Jesus around, my conscience has 
been troubling me. He is so pure that one, who 
is impure, cannot help but feel his own wicked- 
ness. I have felt it my friend, and I mean to do 
better and I know you'll help me to." 

"Indeed, I will Elah and may God grant you 
His favor and help," said Eliab out of a full heart. 

An hour later the two boys were standing to- 
gether at the City gate waiting for the coming of 
Jesus. He soon arrived accompanied by His dis- 
ciples. The boys joined them. They all went at 
once into the temple. There He taught the peo- 
ple, many of His teachings being in the form of 
parables. 

One parable that impressed Eliab forcibly 
was the one telling of the husbandmen to whom a 



/ MM A AUE L. IO £ 

vineyard was let. To these the householder sent, 
at the proper season, to receive of the fruit, but 
the husbandmen shamefully used the servants 
who had been sent, even killing one of them. The 
second company sent was treated likewise. Fin- 
ally the householder sent his own beloved son 
thinking they dare not use him despitefully, but 
the husbandmen slew him also. When Jesus had 
explained the parable the chief priests and Phar- 
isees saw clearly, that He referred to them. They 
became so angry that they sought to lay violent 
hands on Him. but the}' feared those who believed 
on Him. 

The parable of the marriage of the king's son, 
followed. The Sadducees sought to tempt Him 
with questions about tribute to Caesar and about 
the resurrection, but He soon put them to silence, 
so that they dared not ask Him another question. 
Then the Pharisees came forward to ensnare him. 
One of them, a lawyer, asked Him about the com- 
mandments — as to which was greatest. Jesus 
answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with 
all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all 
thy mind. This is the first and great command- 
ment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt 



IO y I M M A NUEL. 

love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two com- 
mandments hang all the law and the prophets." 
Then Jesus put to them this question ? 

"What think ye of Christ? whose sou is 
he ?" And in their answering Jesus silenced them 
so they too, dared ask Him no more questions. 

It did Bar-elah lots of good to see these self- 
important, conceited, self-righteous Pharisees put 
to silence. 

"Didn't he shut that old fellow up in a hurry 
though," he whispered to Eliab, as his handsome 
face beamed with delight. 

Jesus was so fearless in his denunciation of 
the scribes and Pharisees, that all about were 
amazed. Said He: 

"But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, 
hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven 
against men : for ye neither go in yourselves, 
neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, h}^pocrites ! 
for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence 
make long prayer : therefore ye shall receive the 
greater damnation. 

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for y e make clean the outside of the cup 



1 M M A NU E L. 



108 



and of the platter, but within they are full of ex- 
tortion and excess. 

"Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which 
is within the cup and platter, that the outside of 
them may be clean also. 

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites ! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, 
which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are 
within full of dead men's bones, and of all un- 
cleanness. 

"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous 
unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and 
iniquity." And this He said before all the peo- 
ple. Many other woes were pronounced against 
them because of their iniquities. 

While He was teaching a party of Greeks 
who had come to attend the passover, came to 
Philip saying : 

"Sir, we would see Jesus." Andrew and Phil- 
ip went and told Jesus. While Jesus was talking 
to them a voice from heaven spoke to Him. Some 
of those who heard it thought it was thunder 
while Bar-elah and Eliab and many others thought 
an angel spoke with Jesus. It filled all with won- 
der. 



I09 I M M A NUEL. 

As Jesus and His disciples went forth from 
the temple He told them of its destruction, when, 
as He said : 

"There shall not be left here one stone upon 
another, that shall not be thrown down." 

He also told of the persecution they, as His 
disciples, should suffer. He spoke the parable 
of the ten virgins to teach the disciples the ne- 
cessity of their watching constantly for the corn- 
ing of the hour in which "the Son of man, " (mean- 
ing Himself), should return. 

Then He spoke the parable of the talents to 
teach the duty of each one using the talents, the 
powers, the opportunities given by God. 

Before leaving the Mount of Olives, to which 
He and His disciples had gone after leaving the 
temple, Jesus described to them the last judgment, 
when, as He said : 

"The Son of man shall come in his glory, and 
all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit 
upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall 
be gathered all nations: and he shall separate 
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his 
sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep 
on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 



1MMAAUEL.. II0 

"Then shall the King say unto them on his 
right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, in- 
herit the kingdom prepared for you from the foun- 
dation of the world. * * "Then shall he say 
also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, 
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the 
devil and his angels: * * and these shall go 
away into everlasting punishment: but the righ- 
teous into life eternal." 

Immediatel}' after this the chief priests and 
scribes and elders gathered together in the palace 
of Caiaphas the high priest, that they might plot 
to take Jesus and kill him. One of the twelve 
whom Jesus had chosen, one named Judas Iscar- 
iot, the one who had acted as treasurer of the lit- 
tle band, one who had seen the mighty works 
which Jesus had done and had attended upon His 
ministry, but who loved money more than the 
Lord, went to these chief priests and others and 
said to them : 

"What will ye give me, and I will deliver him 
unto you ?" 

"Thirty pieces of silver," said they. Judas 
agreed. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

^HE disciples of the Lord had prepared the 
passover, and when evening had come, 
they sat down to the passover meal. After sup- 
per Jesns greatly astonished His disciples for, 
after He had girded Himself with a towel, He fill- 
ed a basin with water and then washed the feet 
of each disciple. How strange ! What an ex- 
ample of humility ! The Son of God taking upon 
Himself the work of the lowliest servant! The 
disciples were deeply impressed. 

While they sat at meat, the disciples were 
greatly surprised and saddened to have Jesus say 
to them : 

"One of you shall betray me." Each began 
to ask: 

u Is it I ?" John, the one whom Jesns loved 
so dearly, and who reclined on Jesus' bosom at 
the supper, asked : 

"Lord, who is it?" 



1MMANUEL. II2 

"He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I 
have dipped it," said Jesus. When the sop was 
dipped it was handed to Judas Iscariot, and he at 
once went out. 

Jesus spent some little time talking with His 
disciples. He knew the hour in which Judas 
should betray Him and He should be put to 
death, was drawing near. He had much to say 
to His little band. He told them what things 
should happen to them. He told how Simon 
Peter should deny Him. He comforted them with 
many blessed assurances and promises. 

After He had prayed with His disciples, they 
went out to Gethsemane. Jesus took Peter, James 
and John with Him, apart from the others, and 
bade them watch there with Him. He went a 
short distance from these. They could hear Him 
praying. He seemed to be in ver}~ great agony. 
His prayer was : 

" O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup 
pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as 
thou wilt." The agony He suffered was intense. 
So great was it, because of the burden of His 
soul, that He sweat great drops of blood. 

When He returned to His disciples He found 
them asleep. He awakened them and said : 

"Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me 
is at hand." 



H o I M M A N U E J. . 

As they went they were met by Judas Iscariot, 
who was accompanied by a band of officers, and a 
very great multitude and into the hands of these, 
the traitor betrayed the Christ, by a kiss, for he 
had said to them : "Whomsoever I shall kiss, 
that same is he : hold him fast." 

The officers at once laid hands on Jesus. He 
offered no resistance for He knew that His hour 
had come. Peter, however, drew a sword and cut 
off the ear of the high priest's servant, but Jesus 
rebuked him and touched the ear and healed it. 

To those who came out against Him, He 
said : 

"Are ye come out, as against a thief, with 
swords and with staves to take me ? I was daily 
with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me 
not." 

They bound Him and led Him the Christ, 

the Messiah, the Lord, the Holy One of God 

led Him away a prisoner. 

He was at once taken before Caiaphas the 
high priest, before whom all the chief priests, 
scribes and elders had gathered. Peter, one of 
the twelve, followed Jesus at a distance but would 
not go further than the servant's hall. There he 
sat and warmed himself before the fire, while his 
Master was being shamefully maltreated within. 
While there in the midst of the servants of the 
high priest, three times Peter wickedly denied *all 



1MMANUEL. II4 

acquaintance with Jesus. He even sought to af- 
firm his wicked denial with an oath. Just as he 
had uttered the third denial he heard the cock 
crow. Peter was now where he could see Jesus as 
he stood in the palace of Caiaphas. Just as Peter 
had uttered his third denial, Jesus turned toward 
him. The guilty disciple saw the look of his 
divine Master and that look nearly broke his sin- 
ful heart for at once he remembered what Jesus 
had said to him: — 

"Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me 
thrice." 

Peter was exceedingly sorrowful and went 
out and wept bitter tears of repentance. 

During this time Jesus was being examined 
by Caiaphas, who questioned Him first, as to the 
disciples He had made and then as to the doctrine 
He had taught. The council produced false wit- 
nesses against Him, hoping by means of these to 
secure His condemnation and death. But even 
these did not answer the purpose intended. 

One witness testified : 

"This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the 
temple of God, and to build it in three days.' " 
When Jesus did not answer to this, but kept 
silence, the high priest arose and demanded that 
He tell them whether or not He was the Christ, 
the Son of God. 

Jesus answered : "Thou hast said : neverthe- 



XI e I M M A NUEL. 

less I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the 
Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, 
and coming in the clouds of heaven." 

This angered Caiaphas and in his wrath he 
arose, and rent his clothes, and said : 

"He hath spoken blasphemy; what further 
need have we of witnesses ? behold, now ye have 
heard his blasphemy. What think ye?" To 
this the scribes, the elders and the chief priests 
answered : 

"He is guilty of death." 

Then they all began to mock Him and to use 
Him most shamefully. 

Oh ! how the hearts of Bar-elah and Eliab 
would have ached had they been able just then to 
see this One whom they had followed and whom 
Eliab loved so ! If they could have had one 
glimpse at the face, to them "so full of love and 
beauty, as one after another of the wicked council 
smote Him in the face with their hands, and some 
of them even went so far as to spit in His face ! 
Oh, to what depths of iniquity will man sink! 

They bound Him and when it was day, they 
led Him before Pontius Pilate the Governor of 
Judaea. The Jews would not enter the Judg- 
ment Hall, lest they might become defiled and 
not be able to eat the passover. Surely was not 
this doing as Jesus had told the Pharisees the}- 



I MM A A U E L. 



Il6 



did — when He said: "ye blind guides, which 
strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." 

Pilate questioned Jesus carefully regarding 
the matters charged against Him by the Jews, 
and finding no charge that could be sustained 
against Him, he went out to where the Jews 
were and said to them: 

"I find no fault in this man." 

When Pilate found that Jesus was from Gal- 
ilee he at once sent Him to Herod, the tetrarch 
of that province, who happened to be in Jerusalem 
just then. 

Herod was very glad to see Jesus for he had 
heard of the many great and wonderful things He 
had done, but had never before seen Him. He 
too examined Jesus but found no fault in Him. 
So after he and his soldiers had mocked Him, 
he sent Him back to Pilate. 

Pilate called the chief priests, and elders and 
scribes together and said to them : "Ye have 
brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth 
the people; and, behold, I, having examined him 
before you, have found no fault in this man touch- 
ing those things whereof ye accuse him : No, 
nor yet Herod : for I sent you to him; and, lo, 
nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I 
will therefore chastise him, and release him." 

For it was customary at this feast of the pass- 



j j j IM M A NUEL. 

over, to release unto the Jews, one prisoner and 
Pilate remembered that he held as prisoner one 
Barabbas, a desperate fellow, and he thought he 
would give the Jews their choice between Barab- 
bas and Jesus, expecting them to choose Jesus in 
preference to wicked Barabbas who had given 
them so much trouble, while it was known by all 
that Jesus had done many great things for the 
people, and Pilate was really anxious to release 
Him. 

Pilate therefore, went forth to the Jews and 
suggested that he release Jesus but to his great 
amazement the Jews, incited by the chief priests, 
demanded Barabbas, and when Pilate asked what 
he should do with Jesus, they all began to cry out: 

"Let him be crucified." 

Pilate tried to reason with them, but all in 
vain for the Jews only cried out the louder : 

"Crucify him, crucify him." 

So Pilate released Barabbas and took Jesus 
and scourged Him and then delivered Him to 
his soldiers, to be crucified and these soldiers took 
Jesus out into the Praetorium, or common hall, 
and there in the presence of the whole band of 
soldiers they shamefully mocked Him. They 
took off His spotless garment and clad Him in 
purple. They put a reed in His hand to repre- 
sent a sceptre. They platted a crown of thorns 



I MM A NUEL. 



Il8 



and put this on His brow. They spit upon Hiin, 
They smote Him. They mockingly hailed Him 
as a King. And all this to the One who had 
lived a pure, holy, unspotted life ! Who had come 
into the world to redeem it ! The One who was 
the long-looked-for Messiah of these same Jews ! 

Pilate still felt anxious to release Jesus and 
was stili in hopes that the Jews would permit him 
to do so — so he went forth to them again and said: 

"Behold, I bring him forth to you: that ye 
may know that I find no fault in him." 

Jesus, clad in purple robes, now stained with 
blood from His lacerated back, (because of the 
cruel scourging), and His brow pierced by the 
crown of cruel thorns, came out and stood before 
them, and Pilate, hoping to excite their sympathy 
said to the Jews as he pointed to Jesus : 

"Behold the man!" 

Had there been one in that crowd who loved 
Him, that one would have seen in His face a look 
of tenderest compassion. It was the same beauti- 
ful face the sight of which had thrilled so many. 
There was no look of revenge or of hatred. It was 
rather, a look of love even for these wicked Jews. 
A look that told of a heart that was almost broken 
because of the sin of men. But the hard-hearted 
chief priests and scribes and others saw none of 



IX n IM MA NUEL. 

this. The hatred in their wicked hearts had 
blinded them. They only shouted the louder: 

"Away with him, away with him, crucify 
him;' 



During all this time, our two young men had 
been in the home of the uncle. These events 
did not cover as much time as one might at first 
suppose. The betrayal occurred on the evening 
that ushered in the sixth day of the week, and all 
the events referred to, occurred either during that 
night or during the morning of the sixth day. 

Just about the hour when Jesus was scourged, 
Bar-elah had occasion to go forth from the house, 
on an errand for Eliab who was bus}- helping his 
uncle. The arrest and trial of Jesus was by this 
time the talk of the street. It seemed to be in 
everybody's mouth. Little groups of men were 
gathered in the shops and bazaars and upon the 
street corners, all discussing these events. Bar- 
elah could hardly believe his ears. He was al- 
most beside himself. Could all this be true ? "I 
must hasten to Eliab," said he to himself. Just 
at that moment he heard a scribe say to a Phari- 
see : 

"They're going to crucify him." 

"Crucify Jesus ?" asked Bar-elah of one who 
also heard what the scribe said. 



1MMAAUEL. I20 

"That's what he said," was the blunt res- 
ponse. 

Bar-elah could stand no more. His heart 
was deeply touched. 

"Oh what will my Eliab say ! Jesus to be 
crucified! The pure, the holy One!" said he to 
himself as he hastened, yes, as he ran to his friend. 
He burst into the house. Eliab was alone. 

"Eliab, Eliab," began Bar-elah all excited, 
"they've arrested the Christ, gave him a hasty 
trial last night, took him before Pilate, and he 
has' delivered him to be crucified." 

"Oh Elah !" was all Eliab could say as he 
looked into the eyes of his Elah. "My Jesus, my 
Christ ! What an outrage ! Oh that men knew 
Him!" 

"Come with me Eliab," said Bar-elah as he 
took Eliab by the arm and the two went forth into 
the street. 

"Oh yes, Eliab, I heard that Judas, the one 
who betrayed Jesus repented of his sin, took back 
the thirty pieces of silver to the priests, confessed 
that he had betrayed innocent blood and then 
went out and hanged himself." 

Eliab's face brightened a little. 

"He ought to hang himself the wicked scoun- 
drel," said Eliab. 



°r 



CHAPTER XIV. 



_IUST as Bar-elah and Eliab came in view of 
^~)^ the Praetorium, they saw an immense crowd 
moving along the street. 

"Can it be Elah, that they are going to carry 
out their wicked plot this soon ?" asked Eliab. 

"I shouldn't wonder," answered Bar-elah, 
"they have seemed so determined that he 
should die." 

The two stood still a moment. From where 
they were they could look down on the multitude 
as it came towards them. 

u Oh, Eliab, there he is, there he is carrying 
a large cross," said Bar-elah grasping Eliab's 
hand. "Look." 

And Eliab did look and his eyes fell upon the 
person of his divine Lord. 

"Oh, Elah!" sighed Eliab. "But do you not 
suppose He will deliver Himself out of their 
hands Elah ?" 

And as Bar-elah thought of the times when 
Jesus had escaped from them, his face brightened, 
and he said : 



I MM A NUEL. I22 

"I hope so, Eliab, I hope so." 

People came from every direction and joined 
the multitude. Bar-elah and Eliab went with 
them. Yes there was Jesus, in the midst of the 
throng, bearing the cross on which He was to be 
crucified. Some of the multitude were weeping, 
some were shouting, some hardly knew what to 
do. Jesus had not gone far, however, before the 
soldiers took the cross from Him and compelled 
one named Simon, to bear it. 

The multitude reached the City 'gate. It had 
by this time become very large. The soldiers led 
Jesus, and the two malefactors who were taken 
to be crucified with Him, to Golgotha, which by 
interpretation means, the place of a skull. Bar- 
elah and Eliab watched every movement. The 
soldiers made Simon lay the cross upon the ground. 
They stripped Jesus of His garments. Then 
they laid Him upon the cross. 

"Will He submit to their cruelty Elah?" 
asked Eliab, almost terrified at the sight. 

"It looks as though he will Eliab," responded 
Bar-elah. 

The soldiers took great spikes and drove one 
through each hand and one through each foot. 
Every blow of the hammer as the nails were driv- 
en through the living flesh of the Christ, seemed 
to strike terror to the heart of each young man. 



123 



1 M M A AUK L. 



"O Elah, I can't stand this, it's such an outrage! 
Oh to think they are crucifying my Master and 
here I am and can't do anything!" sobbed Eliab. 
Bar-elah was silent. He quietly drew Eliab closer 
to him. 

The cross was lifted into place, and as it was 
being lifted the two boys caught a glimpse of the 
face of Jesus. Did it show traces of anger and of 
hatred ? Oh, no. Never did a face shine bright- 
er than this. In every line, love and compassion 
was to be seen, mingled with the evidences of 
great physical suffering. 

Upon the cross, over the head of Jesus, 
Pilate caused this superscription to be placed : 

"JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF 
THE JEWS." 

This was written in Hebrew, in Latin and in 
Greek, so that all who passed by might read. 
The soldiers parted His garments among them. 

Bar-elah and Eliab and the disciples im- 
mediately about them, made a move to- 
wards the cross. The same thought seemed to 
be in the minds of all — that of attempting to re- 
lease Jesus. Very little attention was paid to the 
two crucified with Him for these were malefactors 
and were guilty — but all who knew the Christ 
knew Him to be innocent. 

Just as the boys came to the cross Jesus was 



1 M M A MJEL. I24 

heard to speak. It was hardly more than a whis- 
per, hut the boys heard it, and, oh of what love 
those words told ! It was a prayer for His mur- 
derers : 

"Father forgive them for they know not 
what they do." 

Bar-elah looked at Eliab and then into the 
face of Jesus. The thief on the cross at His side 
is now heard to speak but ail the boys heard was 
the reply given him by Jesus : 

"To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." 

All this time the soldiers and Jews who had 
not believed on Him stood about wagging their 
heads and mocking Him — telling Him to save 
Himself, to come down from the cross, and so on. 

Bar-elah and Eliab for a moment stood look- 
ing into the face of Jesus and then Bar-elah, slip- 
ping his arm about Eliab said, as his eyes were 
fixed on Jesus : 

"My Master and my Redeemer." 

Eliab's heart bounded for he knew his friend 
had received the Christ as his own Lord. 

"Eliab, He is the Christ of God, I know. I 
can see it in His face. I can hear it in the words 
He speaks. I know. He is the Lord," whispered 
Bar-elah. 

Eliab was so overcome with joy he could say 

nothing more than "dear Elah, my brother 

disciple." . ' 



125 



I M MA NUEL. 



John the beloved disciple of Jesus stood with 
Mary the mother of the Christ, at the foot of the 
cross. To Mary, Jesus said, referring to His be- 
loved John : 

"Woman, behold thy son !" and to John He 
said : 

"Behold thy mother!" 

Suddenly it began to grow very dark although 
it was onfy about the sixth hour of the day. 

What could it all mean ! Eliab remembered 
that Jesus had said of Himself: 

"I am the light of the world." 

Could it be that now as He was dying, the 
light was going out ? Surety it seemed so. 

Our two young men were so astonished they 
did not know what to do. 

"If the end of all things is at hand Eliab, we 
might as well be right here near our Jesus, as 
any other place," said Bar-elah. Eliab thought so, 
too. 

By the time the sixth hour arrived, the dark- 
ness was very dense. No night had ever seemed 
as dark. It continued until about the ninth hour. 

"Oh Elah, how the Christ must suffer!" said 
Eliab. His thoughts were not so much upon the 
dense darkness and the surroundings as upon 
Jesus. 

"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani !" It was Jesus 
who spoke. He cried with a loud voice. Both 



1 M M A NU E L. 



126 



boys understood the words perfectly. They were 
these: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsak- 
en me ?" 

Then all was quiet until Jesus spoke again. 
He simply said : 

"I thirst," and those who stood near gave 
Him a drink of vinegar. 

"He can't last much longer, Eliab. His suf- 
ferings are almost at an end," said Bar-elah. 

"It is finished," said Jesus softly, and then, as 
His head fell upon His breast : 

"Father, into thy hands I commend my 
spirit" and He was dead. 

"Oh Elah can it be that our Master is dead ? 

Oh how cruel" and Eliab was joined in his 

weeping \)y stalwart Bar-elah. 

Suddenly- the earth began to shake and the 
rocks where the boys stood were rent. The ter- 
rified people ran in every direction but our 

two young men and a little company of faithful 
ones still lingered at the foot of the cross. A 
centurion who stood near was heard to say : 

"Truly this man was the Son of God." 

Bar-elah and Eliab soon left the scene of the 
crucifixion and went to the home of the Uncle. 
They were sad at heart because of the death of 
the One whom now, both of them loved. As they 
went along the street of the City one after another 
of the rabble was heard to cast all manner of slurs 



127 



I M M A NUEL 



at Jesus and His disciples for now they felt 

that they had truly put an end to the humble 
Nazarene. 

Slowly the little company left Golgotha. The 
soldiers broke the legs of the two malefactors, but 
finding that Jesus was dead, they passed Him by. 
One of them, however, thrust his spear into the 
side of His body and blood and water flowed forth. 

The Sabbath was drawing near. It was the 
great day of the feast — a high day. Joseph of 
Arimathaea, one of the disciples of Jesus got per- 
mission from Pilate to bury the body of Jesus, so 
he and Nicodemus, after the body was removed 
from the cross, prepared it for burial, and laid it 
in a new sepulchre in the garden close to the 
place where He was crucified. A great stone was 
rolled before the door of the tomb. 

The chief priests and Pharisees remembered 
that Jesus had said : "After three days I will rise 
again," so they got Pilate to set a guard over the 
tomb, and put his seal upon it, "Lest," as they 
said, "his disciples come by night, and steal him 
away, and say unto the people, He is risen from 
the dead." 

That Sabbath day was a quiet one for Bar- 
elah and Eliab. Although it was a high day and 
there was great rejoicing, the boys could not help 
but feel sad when the}^ remembered the cruel, 
ignominious death that their Master had suffered, 



J MM A A UEL. 



128 



and yet there was a peace within the soul of each 

that was not disturbed at all the peace of God 

given them through faith in Jesus the Christ. 

"Let us go home to-morrow with the folks, 
Elah," said Eliab that night after they had retir- 
ed. "We might as well, Eliab," said Bar-elah. 
* -x- * * * 

A day or two after Bar-elah and Eliab had 
returned to their home town, they went down 
to the banks of the Jordan, and sat in the same 
spot where we first saw them. Before long some 
one was heard approaching. He was chanting a 
psalm of thanksgiving. The trees hid him from 
view. 

"It sounds like Eliphaz," said Bar-elah, "he 
seems happy. I wonder what the latest news 
from Jerusalem, is. " 

It was Eliphaz. 

"Good news for you my friends," were the 
first words he spoke when he came in sight of 
them. "The Lord is risen from the dead and has 
appeared unto several of His disciples." 

"Oh Eliphaz, can it be true ?" said Bar-elah. 

"Yes," continued Eliphaz as he took a seat 
near the two boys, "and I hastened to you to tell 
you all about it." 

Both boys were eager to hear it all. Eliphaz 
continued : 

"It seems that early on the first da}' of the 



I2 o I M M A NUEL. 

week, some of the women who believed on Jesus 
went to the sepulchre to anoint His body. When 
they got to the tomb they found the stone 
rolled away to one side. When they looked with- 
in the sepulchre, the body of Jesus was not there, 
but they saw a young man — an angel — of most 
beautiful countenance and appearance, sitting on 
one side. He told them that Jesus was risen and 
that He had gone into Galilee and there they 
might see Him. 

"The women left in great haste to tell all 
these things to His disciples, but as the)- were go- 
ing, Jesus Himself met them and spoke to them. 
He bade them go and tell His brethren to go into 
Galilee where they would see Him. The women 
went as He bade them. The disciples did not be- 
lieve them at first, but Peter and John, two of the 
eleven ran with haste to the sepulchre and found 
all things as the women had said. 

"Afterwards Jesus appeared unto Mary Mag- 
dalene and to Peter and then to two disciples as 
they journeyed to Emma us. Then to the eleven 
as they sat together breaking bread. The doors 
were all shut but suddenly He was seen in their 
midst and brake bread with them." 

The countenances of both boys beamed with 
delight at this blessed, this glorious news. 

"Oh Elah," said Eliab, "how I wish we all 
misfht see Him !" 



1 M M A NU E L. T ^ 

"So do I, Eliab," said his friend. 

Several days later Eliab and Bar-elah started 
with Eliphaz for Capernaum. As they went 
through Galilee they overtook quite a company 
of the disciples of Jesus who were going to a cer- 
tain mountain where they expected to meet Jesus. 
The three young men joined the company. When 
they reached the mountain, they found nearly 
five hundred others. Suddenly Jesus appeared 
unto them. 

"Rabboni," said both our 3'oung men as their 
eyes rested upon Him. 

"My Lord ! my risen Redeemer," said Bar- 
elah. And as they looked upon His pierced hands 
and feet and side and then into His face, both 
boys were thrilled. 

Bar-elah, Eliab and Eliphaz the next day 
reached Capernaum. Some time afterwards the 
three were sitting together on the house-top, 
when the grandfather of Eliphaz came up to them. 

"I have just heard," said he, "that Jesus of 
Nazareth while walking out to Bethany with his 
disciples, was suddenly lifted up and carried away 
from them and received into heaven." 

"Oh Eliab." said Bar-elah after he and his 
companion had retired for the night, "my dear 
friend Eliab, I'm so glad that I went with you 
when you undertook to follow Jesus, and that I 



! , T I M M A NU EL. 

too have accepted Him as 1113- Redeemer. " 

"And I'm glad too my dear Elah," was the 
response from Eliab. 

"To tell you the truth Eliab," Bar-elah said, 
"I felt drawn towards Him from the very first. 
I could see from the first that there was some- 
thing more than human about Him. And what 
a wonderfully beautiful life His was ! What an 
evidence of divinity was given in His death ! 
And what glory shone from His face as we saw T 
Him on the mountain!" 

"Yes Elah, it was all so wonderful, And to 
think that 3^011 and I have known Him and receiv- 
ed Him. Oh how blessed!" 

There was in the heart of each boy that 
peace which Jesus had said He would give to 
those who were His disciples — it was "the peace 
of God, which passeth all understanding." 



THE END. 



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